Although they were both born and raised in Ontario, HGTV power couple Sarah and Bryan Baeumler have a special place in their hearts for Canada’s West Coast. It is, after all, where they spent the early days of their relationship.

“British Columbia is absolutely incredible,” says Bryan, who moved to Vancouver in 1995 after graduating from Western University. He lived there for six years before returning to Ontario to open a new office. “That’s when I bumped into Sarah, and I told her, “Look, don’t get too attached to me. I’m moving back to Vancouver as soon as I can.”

Sarah, however, had other plans and called Bryan the next day to tell him she was coming with him.

It’s no surprise, then, that the Baeumlers were thrilled when they found out, all these years later, their new show would bring them back out west for an entire summer.

The show in question? Home Town Takeover Canada, a Canadian spinoff of the U.S. series hosted by fellow HGTV couple Ben and Erin Napier. It follows the reno experts as they transform small towns through community-wide renovations.

The inaugural Canadian season takes the Baeumlers to Port Alberni, a city located on Vancouver Island that, despite its natural beauty, was once dubbed the worst city to live in Canada .

“Port Alberni has had some tough times in the past,” says Bryan, noting challenges such as forest fires, the tsunami of 1964 and mill closures that have taken a toll on the local economy.

He and Sarah made it their mission to turn the city into more than just a gas station stop on the way to Tofino.

Over the course of the season, the Baeumlers take on a range of renovation projects, from revitalizing local businesses and the city’s central waterfront gathering area, Harbour Quay, to transforming the homes of residents making a difference in their community.

Among these local “changemakers” is Gail, a natural caregiver who runs community meals out of her house for neighbours in need. In the first episode, we see Sarah and Bryan give her kitchen an expansive makeover to make it easier for her to continue helping others.

“One thing in Port Alberni that a lot of the changemakers shared, and I think what makes it a really special community, is that they break the cycle,” says Bryan. “Gail, growing up, didn’t have enough food to eat, so she decided, ‘I need to fix this for other people.'”

That sense of community showed up in their own work, too. Whenever the Baeumlers ran into challenges during their renovations, they would turn around to find 10 locals rolling up their sleeves ready to help.

“They’re very proud to live there,” adds Bryan. “If we did anything all summer, I think we reminded Port Alberni that the town is theirs. The town is owned by the people, and they have incredible pride of ownership.”

A lot of work and a little bit of play

No matter how much work there is to be done, when you’re spending an entire summer on Vancouver Island, you have to carve out some time for a little outdoor adventure. And the Baeumlers certainly didn’t miss out.

Between filming schedules, meeting with locals and tackling renovations, the couple made sure to explore other parts of the island, including Tofino and Ucluelet, along with Nanaimo and Parksville.

They did quite a bit of fishing, too, and now have a freezer full of salmon to show for it. Port Alberni is the salmon capital of the world, after all, as Sarah notes.

“If for no other reason, it’s worth going to Port Alberni just to go on a salmon charter,” says Bryan.

But beyond the renovations and island adventures, it’s the connections they made in Port Alberni that will stay with them.

“We were living out there for the summer and being in a small community, you become part of that,” says Sarah. “You see each other at the grocery store and at the restaurants and at the local bakery, so it didn’t take us very long to actually feel at home in Port Alberni.”

Since word got out that the Baeumlers would be hosting Home Town Takeover Canada, people have been telling them how incredible it is and how many lives it will change. But Sarah and Bryan see things a little differently.

“It’s debatable, you know, did we change the town or did the town change us? I think this experience changed us a little more,” says Bryan. “Getting to know the incredible people, the culture and the history was so inspiring. It would have been impossible to leave Port Alberni just thinking, ‘Okay, well that was a job. It’s done. Let’s move on to the next.'”

As for which town they’ll take over next, that remains a question mark for now.

“When the show wrapped, we hit the train tracks and started skipping off like The Littlest Hobo and said, ‘Let’s see where we end up next,'” says Bryan.

He’s joking, of course. But when they do get the call about their next location, there’s no doubt there will be a little skip in both of their steps.

Home Town Takeover Canada premiered on Oct. 25. It airs weekly on Sundays on HGTV in Canada, and can also be streamed on CityTv+

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

1610 Ross Rd., North Vancouver

Type: Five-bedroom, five-bathroom detached

Size: 3,240 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,441,000

Listed for: $2,749,900

Sold for: $2,665,000

Sold on: Aug. 28

Days on market in this listing: 53

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

Buyers agent: Michael Lane at eXp Realty

The big sell: This custom-built Lynn Valley home encompasses over 3,000-square-feet of living space with five bedrooms and five bathrooms while sitting on a 6,968-square-foot tree-lined lot with greenbelt views. The two-storey interior features effortless indoor/outdoor living with french doors that open from the dining room onto an entertainment-sized patio. Adding to the relaxation quotient, the patio has the added benefit of a hot tub that overlooks the fully-fenced backyard with its easy maintenance artificial turf and manicured garden. Back inside, there is a great room layout with a modern Shaker-style kitchen adjacent to the living room and family room which are separated by a floor-to-ceiling stone-surround double-sided fireplace. Also on the main floor is a den and an ensuited bedroom, while upstairs are three family bedrooms. A bonus is a completely separate two-level one-bedroom suite for extended family use or for mortgage-helping income.

1707 — 6233 Katsura St., Richmond

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 672 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $551,200

Listed for: $499,900

Sold for: $490,000

Sold on: July 24

Days on market in this listing: 25

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Paul Eviston PREC at ReMax Select Properties

The big sell: This one-bedroom condo boasts a sub-penthouse position within Richmond’s Hampton’s Park development that was constructed by Cressey in 2004. It offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy the view spanning the city, parks, airport and the North Shore Mountains thanks to a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a balcony. The interior layout is functional with a well-equipped kitchen with peninsula seating, a living room with a gas fireplace, plenty of storage space in the bedroom including a walk-through closet, a semi-ensuite bathroom, and insuite laundry. The home comes with one parking stall and a large locker, plus access to residents’ facilities including an indoor swimming pool, a steam room, Jacuzzi, gym, guest suite and lounge. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $362.49, and rentals and pets are permitted with restrictions.

714 — 22 East Cordova St., Vancouver

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 604 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $540,000

Listed for: $583,000

Sold for: $550,000

Sold on: June 20

Days on market in this listing: 149

Listing agent: Elvira Domracheva at Orca Realty Inc.

Buyers agent: Mike Giesbrecht at Royal LePage Sussex

The big sell: The Van Horne building in Vancouver’s Gastown is an architecturally striking building with concrete construction and brick exterior detailing that comprises 166 loft-style units with 16-foot-high ceilings and expansive windows. This particular home has been renovated and occupies an upper-floor position. Buyers’ agent Mike Giesbrecht reports that his clients were attracted to the layout, the abundance of natural light, the balcony with space for a table and chairs (many units in the building have a smaller Juliette balcony), and the southern views of Science World and Mount Baker. Additional highlights include quartz countertops, sleek cabinets and stainless-steel appliances in the kitchen, hardwood floors, radiant heat in the bathroom, concrete ceilings, and a mezzanine-level bedroom. The building’s facilities include secure bike rooms, visitor parking, and a full-time caretaker, and this unit also comes with a parking stall, a storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $426.87.

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.

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Household energy costs — gas, electrical, AC — continue to rise. So it’s distressing to see our hard-earned dollars drifting out the door through cracks, substandard windows, uninsulated attics and basements. BC Hydro estimates that your home’s energy bills can be 140 per cent higher in winter than in summer (customers can track their usage — down to the hour — by logging into their account. FortisBC customers can do the same with their “ My energy use ” tool).

And then there are the potential hazards caused by frozen pipes and hoses in the form of leaks and floods. But, as the big chill descends, there are simple steps we can take to minimize those losses and save money — maybe even earn some cold, hard cash in the form of rebates.

Pipe schemes

To keep exterior pipes, hoses and faucets from freezing, Lydia Fookes, BCAA’s manager, consumer marketing, says, “Draining them before it gets super cold can stop pipes from freezing and the water inside expanding and causing them to crack or burst, which then results in water damage.”

Fookes says, after you’ve drained them, turn off the water to your outside faucets and drain pipes, and disconnect hoses and sprinklers. If it gets really cold, you can cover outdoor faucets with an insulation kit or use foam insulation.

“In extreme cold, (you) can open cabinets around indoor plumbing to expose them to warmer air. You can also let a small trickle of water (briefly) run out from at-risk faucets and taps to prevent freezing even more,” says Fookes.

“We typically advise people to keep their home heated to at least 16 degrees Celsius, even while they’re away on vacation. That keeps pipes from freezing, especially those that may not be in insulated areas of the home.”

Fookes says 57 per cent of BCAA’s insurance claims from November to January are the result of backed-up drains and surface water. “Clear gutters are crucial to help direct rain and mounting snow away from your roof, walls and the building’s foundation. Blockages to gutters can cause leaks, overflow and ice buildup.”

She says adding a downspout at least two meters away from the property and directed toward the street can avoid risk of water accumulating near doors, entryways and walls.

Also, remove any dead, damaged or overhanging tree branches that could fall onto your roof during wind, snow or ice buildup.

Draft dodging

Gaps and cracks around windows and doors are prime entryways for cold air to creep inside. In fact, just a one-eighth gap around an entry door can leak as much air as a small open window. BC Hydro notes 45 per cent of heat loss is through walls, floors and the roof.

“Sealing gaps and cracks in exterior walls, caulking windows and applying weather stripping around doors can make a meaningful difference” of up to $600 a year, says Alicia Hearn, program manager, conservation awareness & marketing strategy for Fortis BC.

Mark Cooper, founder and president of North Vancouver’s Shakespeare Homes & Renovations Inc., cautions that homeowners not caulk every visible opening. “Modern windows and building envelope systems are designed to manage and drain moisture, and sealing the wrong areas can actually trap water and create bigger problems.”

BC Hydro says there are a couple of ways to check for drafts: 1) Use a thermal detector. If you see a 5°C or more change in either direction, you have a leak. 2) On a windy day, hold a stick of lit incense near a suspected drafty area. If the smoke wavers or blows out, you have a leak. 3) If you can hear outside noise clearly, it sounds like you have a draft, since a good seal would cut that out. 4) Enlist an energy auditor who will use a powerful fan to evaluate how air tight your home is.

“You don’t necessarily need expensive equipment,” says Cooper. “On a cool, windy day, run your hand around windows, doors, and baseboards to spot cold air entering the home. Common trouble spots include window and door frames, attic hatches, electrical outlets, plumbing penetrations, recessed lighting, and areas where different building materials meet.”

Once you’ve zeroed in on the drafts, apply V-seal weather stripping to sliding windows, foam weather stripping to inside door frames, or foam insulator pads to outlets and light switches on external walls, window insulating film for single-pane windows, caulk or spray foam to air ducts, vents, pipes and cables that exit or enter your home. (Check out BC Hydro’s DIY with Dave video .)

“Good-quality rubber or silicone compression seals generally perform better and last longer than inexpensive adhesive foam products, particularly on frequently used exterior doors,” says Cooper. “If you can feel cold air coming in beneath an exterior door, it’s worth checking the door’s bottom seal and threshold. A properly fitted door sweep or bottom seal can make a noticeable difference, particularly on older doors.”

Cooper says insulated door cores, high-performance glazing, quality weather seals and well-designed thresholds are all important. “Proper sealing between the door frame and the surrounding wall matters as much as the product itself,” although he does suggest when shopping for new doors that they are designed and rated for Canadian climate conditions, including Energy Star-certified products.

Insulation upgrades can net up to $1,200 in rebates , and, if you find your home needs an insulation overhaul, you could be eligible for a home renovation rebate up to $5,500 for upgrades to attics, exterior walls, etc.

Hearn says, “Adding insulation to attics, crawl spaces and basements can save an average of 15 per cent on heating costs. Customers may be eligible for rebates for insulation projects when the work is completed by a member in good standing with the Home Performance Contractor Network . Through the Home Renovation Rebate Program, customers may be eligible for rebates for energy-efficient windows, doors and insulation. ”

Cooper says, “Modern high-performance windows use technologies such as low-E coatings, insulating gas fills, improved frames, and better glazing systems to reduce heat transfer. Triple-glazed windows can provide even greater comfort and energy performance, particularly in colder conditions.”

Beyond energy savings, he says, better windows can reduce cold spots, improve comfort near the glass, and help manage interior condensation.

“However, proper installation, flashing, and air sealing are critical. A poorly installed expensive window can still cause drafts, water penetration, and long-term damage.”

He says an acceptable temporary or budget-friendly alternative is an interior insulating film kit, which can reduce drafts around older windows.

Furnace filters

Fortis B.C. says if your furnace is more than 15 years old, it’s only between 70 and 80 per cent efficient. “Homeowners can find the efficiency of their natural gas fireplace by looking at the EnerGuide Fireplace Efficiency label or by checking the Natural Resources Canada Fireplace database, ” says Hearn.

Newer heating systems, like Energy Star natural gas furnaces and boilers, are at least 94 per cent efficient.

It’s a good idea to check your filter at least every three months and clean or replace it regularly, more often if smokers or pets live with you. Tight-fitting pleated filters work best. (Fortis offers how-to videos on YouTube.)

Fortis also recommends having your furnace, boiler or heat pump serviced annually by a licensed contractor (and potentially qualify for rebates of up to $150).

“For longer term savings, homeowners may consider replacing electric baseboards with a high-efficiency air source heat pump,” says Hearn, noting that upgrades may be eligible for rebates of up to $4,000 .

Clean the filters on your indoor heat pumps several times a year and replace them once a year for maximum efficiency.

“A high-efficiency heat pump is designed to deliver more heating and cooling using less electricity than older or less efficient models,” says Hearn. “It’s important to note that heat pumps need to be sized carefully and installed correctly to perform according to their efficiency rating.”

BC Hydro spokesperson Jill Dickau adds that air-source heat pumps work by extracting heat from outdoor air and transferring it indoors. “Compared to conventional models, high-efficiency heat pumps maintain their performance more effectively in colder temperatures and use less electricity to deliver the same level of comfort.” She says eligible customers can get rebates of up to $4,000 for installing a heat pump and may even qualify for a free heat pump based on income. The federal government also recently announced a new National Heat Pump Rebate .

You can also save on energy costs by using your gas fireplace to heat only the areas you’re occupying and turning down heating in the rest of the house. If you’re upgrading to a newer fireplace, the most energy-efficient models are sold with the EnerChoice logo.

Some like it hot

BC Hydro recommends setting your thermostat at an energy-efficient 18°C to 21°C (16° overnight), depending on your activity level, and leave it. Frequent setting changes can impact the efficiency (and your energy costs). “Upgrading to a smart thermostat can cut electricity used for space heating by an average of nine per cent,” says Dickau. And, she adds, “Eligible BC Hydro customers with electric baseboard heating can receive up to five free smart thermostats to manage their energy use.”

A smart or programmable thermostat connects to your internet, letting you maintain an ideal temperature remotely from your smartphone or laptop. Some even adapt to your preferences and use built-in sensors to detect movement in different rooms and adjust automatically. Hearn says customers can access rebates of up to $150 for qualifying connected thermostats.

Dickau notes many electronics continue to draw power even when turned off, known as standby power. “This can account for up to 10 per cent of a household’s electricity use. Unplugging devices or using a power bar that can be switched off can help reduce unnecessary energy consumption.”

She adds that eligible B.C. homeowners can receive up to $12,500 in rebates through BC Hydro’s Home Renovation Rebates Program for upgrades such as insulation, windows and doors, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and other energy-saving improvements. Check out more at bchydro.com/rebates .

There are many other simple steps we can take to reduce energy. Keep furniture (and drapes) at least 30 cm away from vents, registers and baseboard heaters and at least 15 cm from the sides of the baseboard to improve air flow and avoid a fire hazard.

Open curtains on warm days and close them at night and on cold days. Close off unused rooms. Set ceiling fans to spin clockwise at a low speed to help circulate warm air that naturally rises to the ceiling. Lay a thick area rug on unheated floors. Wear fuzzy slippers, heavy sweaters and blankets to stay toasty.

Ultimately, a little preventive maintenance every fall can go a long way, says Cooper. “You don’t necessarily need to spend thousands of dollars to make meaningful improvements to your home’s comfort and efficiency.

When you’re considering larger upgrades, it’s worth looking at the home as a complete system rather than addressing individual components in isolation.”

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In Vancouver’s Point Grey neighbourhood, artist and industrial designer Zoë Pawlak has opened a new creative space, welcoming visitors for coffee, conversation and a closer look at her work.

After five years in the city’s Armoury District, Pawlak has moved her practice to a quieter, street-level studio, where familiar faces regularly stop by and informal tours offer a chance to discover the stories behind her paintings.

This move marks a fresh chapter for the Vancouver artist, who is celebrating 20 years as a full-time creative professional.

“I am now situated in an area that is both commercial and surrounded by a few beautiful neighbourhoods. It’s walkable, so I have noticed that many of my past clients, colleagues and acquaintances walk by, pop in and say hello,” she says.

The new space offers a balance of accessibility and privacy, allowing Pawlak to connect with her community while making time for the focused work her practice demands.

The change of surroundings coincides with a shift in Pawlak’s artistic direction. Her newest collection, Under This Strange Sun, comprises six paintings created for the inaugural soft opening of the new Poltrona Frau flagship store in Vancouver.

This collection explores a more fully abstract language of colour, light and atmosphere. “I spent the summer observing and recording the sun at dawn and dusk, fascinated by the haunting, ethereal beauty of the skies and how different they feel from those clear skies of our childhoods,” she says.

The new studio is also part of a broader change in how Pawlak approaches her working life.

Last winter, she decided to give up the larger gallery and studio space she’d maintained for years, reducing overhead and giving herself more freedom to pursue opportunities beyond Vancouver.

That flexibility has already taken her to Los Angeles, where she developed a new body of work at Thomas Hayes Studio, to Baja for a collaboration at Dome Home and to New Mexico, where she taught at Ghost Ranch.

“Also, my children are now grown (18 and 20), so I’m more free to look around at what’s next,” she says.

It’s a shift she welcomes as she reaches an important career milestone. “I feel very much mid-career, which is a wonderful position to be in. You have enough experience to be respected and are also young enough to have the ability to be sharp and innovate,” she says.

Over the past 20 years, Pawlak has established herself as an artist whose curiosity extends well beyond painting. Her distinctive use of colour and form has translated into furniture, rugs, mirrors and sculpture, often through collaborations with designers and skilled craftspeople.

Working with Vancouver designer Jeff Martin, she created hand-painted furniture, some of which was purchased by the Canadian government for use internationally.

Another collaboration took her to a Quebec foundry, where she pursued an ambitious bronze wall sculpture despite initially being told it couldn’t be made.

While Pawlak regularly sells work in New York and Los Angeles and travels to Canadian cities including Toronto, Montreal and Calgary, Vancouver remains central to her creative life.

She’s particularly encouraged by the city’s evolving design scene, from independent galleries to events surrounding IDS West.

“Vancouver has such a supportive and connected design community. There’s a genuine sense of camaraderie and so much love for one another’s work,” she says.

Pawlak has definitely fostered those connections. In 2007, she co-founded a group for female entrepreneurs that went on to organize more than 35 free events and six retreats.

She’s now exploring new markets, including Arizona, Dubai and New Mexico, while expanding her practice through teaching, retreats and private commissions.

Pawlak also recently celebrated ten years of sobriety from alcohol, which has been the most significant change in her career, she says.

“When you’re able to be more clear, the work and all decisions related to the career become more effective, profitable and rewarding. I feel that I have a very clear sense of what I am building this year. This includes more teaching, leading retreats, private clients, and expanding sales of my oracle deck,” she says.

Pawlak’s oracle deck features 40 gold-embossed cards that showcase paintings from her Vessels and Muses collections. A booklet describes the meaning behind each card, with journal prompts and connections to the 12 astrological signs.

“I’ve always been interested in the relationship between art, intuition and our inner lives, and I loved the idea of creating something that people could engage with in a more personal, everyday way,” she says.

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Shakespeare’s Macbeth was a dark tragedy, but there’s nothing dark (or tragic) about this six-bedroom, eight- bathroom home on West Vancouver’s Macbeth Crescent. Quite the opposite, in fact.

With 20-foot ceilings in the great room and a wall of windows to match, plus numerous windows strategically placed throughout, there are plenty of entry points to let the sun shine in all day long. But it doesn’t lack for privacy: this home, designed by Marque Thompson with interior design by Raveninside, provides the best of both worlds, says listing agent Peter Joudaki of Progressive Vancouver Team/Angell Hasman & Associates Realty Ltd.

“You can’t see anybody from inside but you don’t lack sun. Usually that’s the trade-off: You get a private lot but it’s dark, or you get a bright lot but you see the roofs of other houses outside your window, or you have to close your blinds at certain times of the day. (Here you get) super sunny, super private.”

And that makes a difference when you’re spending time on the half acre of lawn and terraced garden enjoying the pool (with automatic cover), hot tub, fire pit, or on the covered lanai with its outdoor chef’s kitchen.

Another unusual standout? The backyard creek with spawning salmon. “You can actually see the salmon that spawn throughout the year, so (the owner) set up seating and a fire pit along the creek to watch them,” says Joudaki. “Most creeks run a little stronger and quicker, but this one, Wagg Creek, is very calm and relaxing. It never really rages.”

What’s inside

If you suspected an athlete was the vision behind a home that was designed and built to include a regulation 20-foot high ceilinged sports court for squash and basketball, a double-height gym, a Pilates studio with its own entrance, a sauna and steam room, you would be right.

The current owner, says Joudaki, is a former professional athlete who played “a very high level soccer when he was younger, and still plays Division 1.”

His wife is a Pilates instructor and their two kids play a variety of sports. “They built this house specifically for their family, designing everything around their active lifestyle.”

A part of that active lifestyle includes entertaining, and the mostly covered and heated outdoor decks and patios, pool, fire pit and kitchen are perfect for parties, rain or shine. “They even put in a connection for an outdoor projector system because they thought it would be cool for their kids to have their friends over to watch movies outdoors,” says Joudaki.

At the front entranceway, down a few steps to a huge glass pivot door, sits a fully covered lounge area. “They designed it like that because they know that in Vancouver we get five to six months, potentially, of rain,” says Joudaki. “And when they’re hosting, they don’t want their guests waiting outside in the rain for their car or taxi to arrive.”

Once through that huge pivot door, a beautiful, hand-blown Bocci chandelier hangs from the 20-foot ceilings of the great room.

A floor-to-ceiling stone hearth reaches to cedar planking overhead. White oak, more cedar, pale stone, and blackened steel completes the palette. Take the floating oak staircase or elevator to reach all three levels.

The kitchen is furnished by Italian manufacturer Scavolini and features Gaggenau stove and steam oven, Sub-Zero fridge, wine fridge and freezer, and a high-end Caliber nine-burner range. “(The owner) chose this (range) because you can customize the colour of the knobs and lighting,” says Joudaki. “He wanted an industrial look to mix in with the sleek, modern feel (of the home). And he wanted to add brass because there’s a few brass fixtures mixed in throughout.”

A separate butler’s kitchen and pantry allows for private prep when the house is full of guests. The dining room, which can accommodate 20, opens onto the heated, covered terrace and outdoor kitchen for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining.

The homeowners chose Italian porcelain countertops made by Macchia Vecchia as opposed to marble for its practicality. “Real marble is very porous,” says Joudaki. “They have two kids, so they wanted their kitchen to be durable. They wanted to cook and hang out and not have (the counters) potentially stained or discoloured.”

Downstairs, off a rec room, is a wet bar with shelving to display the couple’s wine collection, as well as a home theatre.

Bedrooms include two primary suites as well as four other bedrooms and a nanny suite with kitchenette. The main bedroom has a fireplace and the en suite features a walk-in shower with stone bench and brass fittings, black-framed glass doors and freestanding tub.

“Most (interested buyers) are families that have active kids, like privacy, and don’t want something too ostentatious,” says Joudaki. “From the outside, it looks like a subtle, unassuming one-level modern house. But when you see it from the backyard, the scale and how it unfolds is unbelievable.”

In the neighbourhood

Macbeth is a little crescent not many people know about, says Joudaki. “This pocket is east of Taylor Way, which provides this incredible lifestyle that’s super close to everything. You’re five minutes from (Lions Gate) bridge and five minutes from the highway. It’s really convenient but it seems secluded.”

Cedardale Elementary School is a nine-minute walk away and West Vancouver Secondary is five minutes by car.

Park Royal Shopping Centre is a seven-minute drive. Restaurants and more shops are abundant along nearby Taylor Way.

Location:450 Macbeth Crescent, West Vancouver

Listed for: $9,688,000

Year built: 2025

Type: Six bedrooms, eight bathrooms

Size: 10,691 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Peter Joudaki, Progressive Vancouver Team/Angell Hasman & Associates

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The sauna that calms us; the massage that hits just the spot: who doesn’t love luxuriating at a hotel spa?

It’s often an overarching reason why we check in — along with a thread count that’s higher than our usual linen — either as an overnight or local guest to spaces such as the revamped Fairmont Pacific Rim’s spa in downtown Vancouver. However, while we might not have its 8,500 square feet and North Shore vistas to play with, there’s an increasing demand to translate those reset moments into our own homes.

“Post-COVID we have seen a real change,” Vancouver designer Kelly Deck says. “Clients are putting exceptional spas into their homes and investing in these resources for themselves in a way they simply were not before. They are only getting more elaborate and essential.”

Creating wellness spaces in any setting is about working out the perfect flow. At the hotel, spa director Kim Carmichael explains “the journey has to be as seamless as possible” — whether you’re enjoying its newest arrivals such as a sauna with Himalayan salt bricks and treatment tables with heated water or sand that mimics lying on a beach along with its detoxing lounges inside or outside on the spacious terrace.

That means at home, the ideal is to bring all the spa elements together in a dedicated spot to ensure, as Deck puts it, “a more restful and holistic experience.” Ideally that would see, say, a sauna — infrared are must-haves today — and a steam shower, the next most popular request, off the primary suite, she continues. “Although in practice, most of our homes locate it beside the gym because the floorplans don’t allow for the 500-plus square feet clients are wanting for their spas.”

A type of polar immersion is third on the list when it comes to her client’s key spa ingredients. “The room has to work for how that person actually behaves, though,” she adds. “We consider the sequence carefully; we never force it. Not everyone likes to cold plunge.” (If the designer needs to sacrifice any option, it’s often the massage table. “It consumes an enormous amount of room for what it gives back.”)

Both experts stress the importance of being as close to nature in every possible way: think limestone, plaster, marble, wood and natural stone for your chosen material, and add in plants if you have natural light. Of course being next to an inner courtyard or garden is a significant bonus. “Bring as much of the outside in,” Carmichael opines. “That’s where you have physiological benefits: calming the nervous system, reducing anxiety, clearing negative energy.”

Deck agrees, “The atmosphere comes from a collection of sensuous materials.” Where steam is involved, porosity governs and usually she turns to ceramic tiles but “always in a very soft glaze so it feels gentle to look at.” The new Moen hydrotherapy shower is a hit at the Pac Rim, but Carmichael suggests even potentially swapping out a shower head in your own bathroom might work wonders. “You can change the pressure of your shower and enjoy the contrast of hot and cold,” she adds.

Atmospheric lighting should also help set the right mood, as well as Selenite or Himalayan salt lamps. Never use pot lights, however. “It puts pressure on the nervous system, absolutely and immediately,” Deck opines. “Hidden details that wash the walls in soft light will do more for a room than any decorative fixture, which mostly distracts.” (Think of a similar clever trick with LED therapy panels — which aren’t always attractive, she concedes: conceal them behind a door or in cabinetry, then bring them out when needed.)

They highlight the need for soft paint hues. For example, choose warm over a fluorescent white, Carmichael suggests, while Deck adds light parchment and linen colours into the mix or a swathe of dark, moody emerald green. “Both can be deeply restful,” she comments. “I feel there are many directions here. The layering of the finishes is what decides it. A restrained palette and excellent lighting are what produce serenity.”

Beyond the big-ticket items, beautiful linens, candles, scent, scrubs and even an elevated tea station will transform a room and reinforce the essence of an attractive spa. When a relaxing treatment, such as the hotel’s new ‘sculpting tide of renewal flow’ on its heated water mattress, isn’t available to you, pick up some gua sha stones to help move the fascia as well as simply setting a room into vignettes.

“A curated basket, an open shelf, a small bench …” Deck concludes. “When the elements of self-care are thoughtfully placed and within reach, the ritual becomes part of the everyday.”

So no matter the size of the space, it seems that every little helps to quieten our minds with a spot of daily wellness.

A few notable spa equipment makers:

Cold plunges: Canadian-made cedar Forest Cooperage or for stainless steel options, check out Polar Monkeys

Red light therapy panels:Sunlighten

Saunas:Blackstone Saunas

Shower specialists:Moen , Mr. Steam or Thermasol

Specialist massage treatment tables: Italian manufacturers Lemi Spa

Stone walls: Burnaby-based supplier: Adera Natural Stone Supply

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Not simply a place to sit, sofas are for morning coffee, Sunday papers, movie nights, friends dropping in and those magic evenings when staying in feels like the best plan.

For Fall/Winter 2026, top designers are releasing sofas that feel generous without becoming cumbersome, sculptural but not precious and individual without shouting for attention.

Comfort is back, but it’s grown up.

Softer, deeper and more inviting

Toronto designer Paolo Ferrari sees a move toward furniture with more physical generosity, but not visual heaviness.

“Sofas are becoming lower, deeper and more enveloping, while their external silhouette remains quite controlled,” he says.

That balance is captured in Ferrari’s MC72 for Poltrona Frau, a low, sweeping sofa inspired conceptually by the aerodynamic language of the Macchi M. C. 72 seaplane.

Ferrari describes the collection as an exploration of “precision, movement and comfort,” with a streamlined form that feels at once grounded and light.

His palette for the season is equally warm and enveloping.

“I’m drawn to warm, mineral and earthy tones, or materials that have depth of colour. Deep browns, oxbloods, tobacco, butter creams.”

More than colour alone, Ferrari is interested in upholstery that changes how a sofa is experienced.

“The material should reinforce the form,” he says.

Comfort with a little personality

At Vancouver design studio Marrimor, the Notch sofa takes another approach to comfort: sleek, playful and deliberately unexpected.

“There’s this idea that more is more comfortable, especially right now. We think it’s a real sign of the times that everyone really wants to sink in and get comfortable,” says Marrimor designer Lauren Bugliarisi, who designs alongside Tanja Breadner.

The studio began by playing with a clean silhouette, enlarging its proportions and then quite literally cutting pieces away.

“We even highlighted those really intentional gaps and notches with piping to challenge typical expectations and draw attention to the subversion,” she says.

The surprise comes when people actually sit down, says Bugliarisi.

“Even with the sleek frame and contrarian details, it just sits so well and people really melt into it!”

She is also seeing the return of what might be called the personality sofa — a piece that establishes the mood of the room rather than quietly disappearing into it.

“We are excited to see the return of a statement sofa, with new understandings of personal tailoring.”

Among the pieces catching Marrimor’s attention beyond its own collection is Faye Toogood’s Butter sofa for Tacchini.

“The first time we saw it presented in person we looked at one another and said ‘I need to crawl into that sofa immediately’,” says Bugliarisi.

The sofa that changes with you

Flexibility is another important idea this season.

Designer Yves Béhar developed his Peaks modular sofa for Moooi around play and adaptability, allowing the arrangement to shift according to how a space is being used.

Peaks can move between lounging, movie seating and a flat platform, with indoor and outdoor configurations possible.

“It gives sunken living room vibes, but expands the possibilities to so many different uses,” says Béhar.

He is also noticing a refinement in sofa proportions:

“Large scale and plenty of depth is still important, but less of the pachydermic look and more elegant and refined lines.”

Buy for your life, not the trend

Perhaps the strongest theme running through all these designers is longevity.

At Australian furniture company King Living, Head of Design Chris Cooke points to the Jasper sofa, introduced in 2003 and still the company’s bestseller.

“Its staying power comes from a combination that’s difficult to get right: a distinctive architectural form, genuine everyday comfort and the ability to make the sofa your own.”

King’s new Delta sofa takes a similarly long view. Its softer, curved silhouette can work alongside earlier Delta pieces rather than forcing owners to start again.

“We don’t design a sofa around a seasonal look. Proportion, material, comfort and function all need to hold their own long after autumn or winter has passed,” says Cooke.

That may be the best advice for anyone sofa shopping this fall.

Ferrari says scale and the architecture of the room should come first. Bugliarisi warns against choosing a sofa in isolation: “We always say, ‘the composition should sing’ — so don’t shop for a sofa in a vacuum!”

“I hope people are considering uniqueness and the right fit for their lives rather than matching trends,” says Béhar.

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Once a woodworker, always a woodworker. Marc Bricault may be an accomplished interior and architectural designer, but he started out as an artisan, and his work is still grounded in timber.

For a custom guest house in Whistler, he layered Douglas fir inside and out.

“We used fir because I really like the warmth of it and how it ages, and it’s a Pacific Northwest material,” says Bricault, who began his career as owner of Granville Island Woodworks and is now principal of Vancouver’s Bricault Design. “A lot of time spent up here is going to be in the winter. We just really wanted it to feel like a warm little cabin where, after a day outside on the slopes, you come and just feel cosy.”

When the homeowner, a longtime client, asked Bricault to add a guest house to her Whistler property, she wanted it to feel connected to the main house without blocking views. He and his team dovetailed the 1,268-square-foot structure into the landscape so deftly that it’s nearly camouflaged among conifers and shrubs.

He had a small section of rock blasted away so the narrow, two-storey structure could notch into the cliffside on one side of the property. The placement also preserves wildlife corridors used by local bears.

Angling upper walls away from the main home’s view lines, he extended the landscape over a series of walkways with tiered green roofs.

“I kind of grabbed the backyard and pulled it on top of the carport,” says Bricault. “We terraced along the way to have a really generously protected walkway from the carport to the little house, because of Whistler snow loads and so that you aren’t shovelling your walk every time you go to the guest house.”

Landscaping softens the rest of the edges. Working with High Country Landscape, Bricault used hardy, low-maintenance vegetation on the green roofs, then added trees to frame specific views: a paperbark maple outside the dining room, a red-leafed Japanese maple at the end of a walkway. A raised mound planted with perennials screens a neighbouring property.

Material choices help the structure blend in further. Black slate shakes give the exterior a “toothlike” form, “like a big rock,” says Bricault, reminiscent of Black Tusk, the jagged volcanic peak in nearby Garibaldi Provincial Park. Copper downpipes and fascia, still bright in places, will darken as they weather.

Under canopies and soffits, edge-grain fir adds warmth, running inside and onto interior walls and ceilings. Bricault’s woodworking roots show here and throughout the home, especially where cabinetry does more than one job — storage, room divider, design feature — and custom pieces blur the line between built-ins and furniture.

Take the entry, where a compact mud room turns the space into a functional landing spot. Fir millwork provides storage while creating separation from the dining area, and a built-in bench flows into open shelving.

A corner window looks toward a cliff face laced with green foliage. “We planted that whole back area with ferns, so it’s kind of a nice spot to sit and take off your boots,” says Bricault. The team also widened natural fissures in the rock to plant moss, he adds: “It’s starting to populate the side of that cliff because it’s in shade a lot of the time. It’s quite lovely when it’s wet.”

A powder room off the entry brings the exterior palette inside, with fir, copper, forest-green tile, soft green quartzite counters and a custom floating mirror edged in bent wood. A second wide window frames the mossy rock outside.

In the kitchen, green quartzite counters top fir cabinetry with copper-plated hardware, while glossy green ceramic tile runs along the backsplash and adjoining walls.

For the dining room, Bricault designed a custom white-oak table with an expandable top and fluting on the apron and legs. Project millworker and Bricault’s longtime collaborator Ted Belch produced the piece locally. A striped pendant overhead adds a playful touch.

Around the corner, a petite living room centres on a fir-lined bay window and glazed-tile fireplace. A concrete hearth extends to the foot of a staircase with cantilevered steps of FSC-certified arbutus. Slim vertical steel bars help support the treads and frame open shelving, continuing upstairs, where they become a guardrail in the sleeping quarters.

There, copper panels etched with a Japanese floral motif flank the bed above arbutus-burl side tables. Built-in drawers opposite make use of the depth created by the angled exterior walls. Motorized blinds disappear into recessed ceiling pockets.

The ensuite continues the home’s earthy palette with brown-green Italian porcelain tile, arbutus flooring and a custom fir vanity perched on fluted legs that feels like furniture. A free-standing tub sits beside a window framing mountain views, while millwork adds storage and separates the bathroom from the bedroom.

For Bricault, the guest house shows how much a small footprint can hold. “I think we managed to fit quite a bit into a very small stand-alone house,” he says. “It feels quite luxurious to me, and cosy and warm and very functional for the size of it.”

Architectural and interior design:Bricault Design

Construction:Vision Pacific Construction

Landscaping:High Country Landscape

Millwork:Ted Belch, Ebony Architectural Woodwork

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

801 — 3315 Cypress Pl., West Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment

Size: 2,018 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,991,000

Listed for: $2,550,000

Sold for: $2,300,000

Sold on: Aug. 10

Days on market in this listing: 118

Listing agent: Rahim Jivraj at eXp Realty

Buyers agent: Franco Diligenti PREC at Macdonald Realty

The big sell: The Cypress Park Estates community resides on the slopes of West Vancouver with properties designed to capture the far-reaching vistas that span Mount Baker to the Gulf Islands. Many of these view homes are detached but StoneCliff is a three-tower concrete residential condo development comprising 111 units that were constructed in the early 2000s. Occupying part of one of the towers is this triple-aspect corner unit that features the sleeping quarters on one side of the floorplan and the reception rooms on the other — deliberately arranged to take full advantage of the uninterrupted south-facing coastal views. The renovated interior features bespoke finishings that create a modern esthetic with custom cabinetry, contemporary light fixtures, and modern bathrooms. The complex provides a number of clubhouse amenities shared between residents of the three towers, and this unit comes with a private double garage and a monthly maintenance fee of $1,319.63.

9314 216 St., Langley

Type: Six-bedroom, four-bathroom detached

Size: 3,217 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,354,000

Listed for: $1,369,900

Sold for: $1,339,000

Sold on: Aug. 5

Days on market in this listing: 48

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

Buyers agent: Chandan Rathod at Sutton Group — Seafair Realty

The big sell: This spacious three-level home resides in Langley’s Walnut Grove district within the Redwood Estates neighbourhood. With six bedrooms and four bathrooms (including a two-bedroom basement suite), the house offers a versatile design and plenty of space for a growing family. The main floor has bright living and dining rooms with a traditional cross-hall layout complete with coffered ceilings and crown mouldings, while the kitchen has Shaker-style maple cabinets, an island, and stainless-steel appliances. Adjacent to the kitchen is an 18-foot-long family room with a gas fireplace, and views across the fully-fenced backyard. There are four generous-sized bedrooms upstairs including the primary suite with a walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. In addition to the accommodation on the lowest level, there is a recreation room for use by the main house. The property has a double garage with lane access, and the home is air-conditioned and a new furnace has recently been installed.

4505 — 3833 Evergreen Pl., Burnaby

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment

Size: 1,175 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,176,000

Listed for: $1,099,999

Sold for: $1,055,000

Sold on: June 30

Days on market in this listing: Seven

Listing agent: Adam Chahl PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Payam Nasernejad at faithwilson Christie’s International Real Estate

The big sell: This air-conditioned sky suite offers a bird’s-eye view of the area due to its position on the 45th floor within the master-planned City of Lougheed site which offers four newly-built residential towers within its five-acre Neighbourhood ONE community, as well as a three-storey central amenity building with fitness and wellness options for residents including a rooftop putting green. A convenient location next to Lougheed Mall with the SkyTrain and numerous retail choices is another bonus. This particular home has two balconies with glass-panel railings, three bedrooms (two are ensuited), laminate floors throughout the interior, white matte cabinets in the kitchen alongside integrated appliances including a french door refrigerator, and there is full-sized laundry. It comes with one parking stall in the underground garage, and a monthly maintenance fee of $723.61.

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

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

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By any measure, a wall tile install or overhaul can elevate any kitchen or bathroom into a brighter, cleaner, jazzier or classier space, depending on the tile style.

The job can be complicated and time-consuming, requiring the expertise of a pro, especially if using high-end materials like imported marble, zellige, porcelain or travertine. Or it can be quick and easy if you opt for DIY peel-and-stick types, which have come a long way from the cheap, plastic-looking tiles of old.

Tile types

Bathroom and kitchen wall tiles generally come in two main types: field and mosaic. Field tiles are larger than decorative tiles, allowing you to cover a bigger surface area.

Mosaic tiles are usually smaller, and are laid together on a large sheet with mesh backing, so you can place dozens at a time.

Ceramic is the most popular material for backsplash tiling because it’s made from clay that has been fired at a high temperature to make it hard and durable. When glazed, ceramic tiles are moisture- and stain-resistant.

Porcelain, a type of ceramic, but harder, denser, more durable and less porous, is also popular.

Natural stone tiles — milky white marble streaked with veins of grey and black; travertine with its dimpled texture and warm tones; smooth slate, made of sedimentary rock in shades of grey; and naturally water-resistant, classy granite — are all highly durable with a variety of textures and colours. They’re costlier and heavier than ceramic and trickier to install yourself.

Engineered materials like glass and cement are less expensive and more versatile. Glass is non-porous and easy to cut with the right tools.

Sealed cement tiles are super durable and are available in a variety of beautiful shapes and patterns. They are, however, heavier and thicker, so make sure your walls can support that extra weight.

Metal tiles are often made of shiny stainless steel but can also come in copper, brass and tin, all durable and water-resistant. They’re lighter than most materials and relatively easy to install.

Wood tiles come in many shapes and designs and often retain their natural grain look. They’re lightweight, affordable and easy to install but often need to be properly sealed to repel water.

As for shapes, backsplash tiles are available in grid-like square; subway-style rectangle; honeycomb hexagon; curvy arabesque; and argyle-like diamond. Popular designs include staggered rectangular subway; ceramic brick made to look like the real thing; zig-zaggy herringbone/chevron; and simple pre-set grid sheets.

Sticky situation

High-end, specialty tile installation is best left to the pros. Peel-and-stick tiles are easy enough for most people to do themselves.

Many interior designers, however, frown upon peel-and-stick as a low-rent solution for a high-end room.

“They definitely have a place,” says Sandra Flora of Vancouver’s Sandra Flora Home Design . “Maybe as a temporary update for a rental space or an RV, or if you’re on a fixed budget, but I would never substitute a peel-and- stick tile for the real thing. If you have your own home and you want your kitchen done right so it’s going to last, I would invest in permanent tiles.”

Flora says she can spot cheap peel-and-stick from across a room. “You’ll see lifting, peeling, wear and tear. Sometimes they pull the drywall right off when you try to remove them.”

Marie-Maude Hannan, developpement des affaires for Quebec-based Inoxia Walls , says her company’s SpeedTiles are made of the real thing — stone, glass, marble, metal and, soon, porcelain. And they come with a 10-year warranty.

“We have a few models that are groutable so once they’re installed nobody knows that they’re peel-and-stick because they look exactly the same as any traditional tile,” says Hannan. “You can’t tell them apart, I assure you.”

Against the walls

Laying traditional tiles can be an involved, multi-day process requiring wall sanding, spreading adhesive or mortar with a trowel, laying the tiles precisely, placing tile-spacers, one to two days of drying then grouting, then, after a few days of curing, sealing and caulking.

Peel-and-stick are much easier. “I’m not a handy person and I did my backsplash myself in one morning,” says Hannan, noting that, because the tiles are made of real materials, they do need to be cut with tools.

She says you can even install Inoxia’s tiles over existing tiles, provided the surface is clean, smooth, level and non-porous. If not, it would have to be primed to prevent it absorbing the adhesive.

Peel-and-stick tiles can be pretty unforgiving — if you make a mistake, you’re stuck, literally. Hannan says there’s a trick to avoid that. “Mix water and a bit of dish soap in an empty 500-750 ml spray bottle, spray the back of the tile with the solution and spread it over the entire tile with your hands. This will delay the bond for maybe 30 seconds to allow you to place it correctly.”

She says if you tire of the tiles after a few years you’ll have to remove them the same way you would with traditional tiles that were installed using mortar because the adhesive is so strong the wall will come off with the tile.

She says tiles that require grout can be installed on a shower wall but not the floor because they are so thin they could break. Also, “We don’t recommend the ones without grout in wet areas, not because of the adhesion but because, even though they’re really tight, there can be micro gaps in between the tiles (that could cause) mildew buildup. But for the grouted tiles, as long as the wall is prepped correctly, just as with any other tile, then there is no issue at all.”

Hannan says, depending on the type of tile, most can be cleaned with a washcloth, water and mild soap.

Matching tile with decor

Before selecting the style of tile, Flora first considers the style of the space she’s decorating.

“I’ll take the client’s artwork into consideration. If it’s very expensive, they’re not going to change that so I’ll work around it so the tiling complements it. I also take into consideration countertops, flooring, lighting, paint colour, hardware, cabinets, unless they’re willing to change it. I might get them to swap out the hardware on their kitchen cabinets and bring in a punch of cool colours and patterns to the tile.”

For design elements, Flora will often add a few decorative ceramic tiles with features such as handmade paintings. “There are some beautiful tiles that have an Amalfi Coast setting. You can add a mosaic type in behind a stove, sometimes in a shower insert. You can never go wrong with light colours and the odd few pops of forest greens, tans, creams. Pink or purple wouldn’t be something I would do because it’s too trendy. This isn’t something you’re going to do every few years because it’s very expensive.”

She prefers natural stone and simple ceramic tiles which she says never go out of style. “Subway tile is great when it’s used in the right layout and with the right colour grout. A lot of designers stay away from subway tile because they see it as dated. I don’t. I see it as timeless, classic.”

She also avoids grey, which she says can be very drab, especially in Vancouver in the fall and winter when we get a lot of rain. “If you bring in some lighter, brighter colours it opens up and brightens up a space and changes the mood.”

If you do opt for peel-and-stick, Hannan says it’s important to differentiate between quality tiles like Inoxia’s and cheaper vinyl or plastic options.

“I’m no expert in those but from what I’ve seen and heard, sometimes they can yellow or crack with time. Because they’re made to be a temporary solution the adhesive is not extra powerful so they can fall off. You also cannot put them over heat so (they won’t work) as a backsplash behind your stove because they’ll burn. Our peel-and-stick is much faster, much easier, but look exactly the same. It’s the best of both worlds.”

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Fall bulb planting has changed dramatically. Gone are the days of picking up some bulbs, scattering them throughout the garden, and looking forward to a spring display.

Today it’s more about creating a specific look in a specific area for a specific time. There is a six-month window of opportunity and creative gardeners are doing some amazing things.

There’s also a great deal of competition for those bulbs. They’re great food for rodents, and squirrels are some of the leading culprits. Plan A is to avoid planting their favourites, and Plan B is being a lot more creative than they are.

Safe bets are the very large narcissus family, giving you many options in size and timing. The allium family is becoming very popular and offers great diversity in varieties. Since rodents are not fans of onions, they also stand a good chance of making it. Also not rodent friendly, the unique fritillaries are a good choice. They add a fun yet natural look to the garden. Surprisingly, snow drops, or Galanthus, are not on the rodent menu, giving us a mid-winter show to kick off our bulb display season.

Planted now, your snow drops should start to appear in late December or early January, depending on the winter weather. Planted around trees and shrubs, in among ground covers like sedums and the black mondo grass, and next to dark foliaged heucheras, they make for great combinations. More folks are planting bulbs in lawn areas where they can naturalize and multiply each year all nestled in a nice green blanket.

The vibrant colours of crocus can be used in the same ways, but you’ll have some competition for these tasty bulbs. The simplest and easiest way to protect them is by covering your plantings with a small weave wire mesh. It can stay in the ground year-round as the bulbs flower through the mesh and the leaves will come and go without anyone noticing. Another deterrent is strongly scented herb leaves like mint and chives, which, when sprinkled over the plantings and covered with soil, will help repel rodents.

Although not actually rodent proof, the whole family of muscari, or grape hyacinths, seem to have little attraction for our bulb eating friends. Muscari multiply and naturalize easily and planted among ground covers, evergreen perennials, and evergreen shrubs like dwarf azaleas and rhododendrons, they look quite stunning. The fact they are now available in shades of blue, white, and pink further broadens their appeal. The world’s number one bulb show garden, Keukenhof in Holland, uses them everywhere as an accent. They make a stunning display initially, and then improve as they multiply each year. I would simply scatter some chives and mint leaves around them when planting for some insurance.

The most impressive narcissus are the smaller varieties like the bulbicodiums and Tete a Tetes. Bulbicodium bulbs are about the same size as a crocus and can be used in the same way as companions to ground covers, evergreen perennials, and low broadleafed shrubs. Tete a Tete narcissus, while one of the smallest, are the most floriferous in the world and can produce from six to nine flowers per bulb the first year. They are also the best indoor forcing mini-daffodils for containers and pots, with great lasting qualities too. These would be my number one pick for patio pots, but they might need a little protection in cold winters.

Don’t forget the cut flower trend is still huge today and the late flowering narcissus like n. Cheerfulness, n. Yellow Cheerfulness, n. Geranium, and n. Bridal Crown are some of the most fragrant, longest stemmed, and latest to bloom.

Narcissus really do have so much to offer. Two of my favourite narcissus are n. Yellow Brick Road, a blend of early, mid- and late-season yellows that greatly extends the blooming season, and n. Reynfeld’s Early Sensation, the earliest narcissus to bloom. Depending on how mild the winter is, I have seen them beautify dark, chilly January days — a promise of spring well before its time.

Tulip bulbs are perhaps the most at risk from our rodent population. I would cover them all with a slightly wider mesh to not only protect them, but allow them to multiply and naturalize in place.

My favourites are the mini-botanical varieties. With bulbs the size of crocus they make a nice snack for those cute little squirrels so they also need to be protected with fine wire mesh covering and I would add some chives and mint as well.

The many families of tulips bloom in sequence, from the Greigiis, the Kaufmanniana single early and double early, the Triumphs, the Darwins, Darwin hybrid fringed, double Peony flowered, green flamed Viridifloras, and finally the lily-flowered and parrots. There are so many spectacular varieties out there, it is no secret that they are Canada’s number one cut flower in terms of numbers sold. Maybe splurge a little and pop just a few of the more spectacular varieties.

A special all natural, eco-friendly product called Bobbex, one we use on plants to deter deer and rabbits, is now available as Bobbex R. which is specifically formulated for rodents. Dip the bulbs in a solution of this and it will make a huge difference in the safety of your bulbs, especially tulips.

If you have never tried fritillarias before, plant few this year. They are not only unique and beautiful, but they, especially the fritillaria Crown Imperial, deter rodents as well.

Alliums have become the young gardeners’ dream plant because of their sheer size and the stunning round flower heads. They are outstanding pollinators as well. If you mix them with the newer perennial varieties, you can get them to bloom over most of the summer.

Don’t miss the opportunity this fall to spice up your garden with these fabulous spring flowering bulbs and don’t forget to protect them from the varmints.

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Rupert Jasper’s Inlay shelf looks assured: vivid blue, clean-lined and cleverly engineered. Its designer is more candid about the uncertainty that went into learning his craft.

There were plenty of days at Design Academy Eindhoven when Jasper felt completely lost. It was almost the point, he says:

“From day one, it’s kind of 100 per cent freedom, which is pretty daunting.”

From Deep Cove to Eindhoven

Jasper began closer to home at Langara College, where the two-year Design Formation program gave him a grounding in architecture, interiors, product design and other disciplines.

Product design was the one that stuck.

When the time came to continue his education, he had the option of Emily Carr University but decided to look further afield.

Design Academy Eindhoven offered a very different kind of experience, and Jasper’s German passport made studying in Europe more accessible.

“I felt like I had a bit of a golden ticket, and I thought I should really utilize this opportunity,” he says.

Eindhoven was less about being shown how to design and more about figuring out what kind of designer you wanted to become.

“You got to choose and craft your own education path,” Jasper says.

Tutors came from different disciplines and brought their own approaches. Jasper describes periods of uncertainty and identity crisis moments, but says learning to navigate that uncertainty has proved useful now that he is working professionally.

After graduating in 2025, he stayed in Europe for almost another 10 months, working with a couple of designers and taking on projects he enjoyed.

He could have stayed longer, but Vancouver was always the plan. “I really wanted to come back and work in Vancouver. It’s my home. I love it here.”

His route into ANDlight came with unusually good timing.

Jasper had previously met ANDlight co-founder Lukas Peet while trying to arrange an internship during his studies. The scheduling did not work out, but the connection remained.

About three weeks after returning to Vancouver, Jasper was downtown waiting to meet a friend for coffee when he stopped outside a showroom to look at a group of ANDlight fixtures.

Peet and ANDlight co-founder Caine Heintzman happened to walk up behind him. They were there to photograph the products.

The three chatted, Jasper mentioned he had just moved home, and later that day Peet emailed to say ANDlight was hiring in production.

“It was kind of a serendipitous moment,” he says.

Jasper spent about 10 months working on the production side before recently moving into the company’s design department as a junior product designer.

“I feel really fortunate,” he says.

More than a shelf

Alongside his work at ANDlight, Jasper’s been developing Inlay.

The system takes cues from mid-century wall-mounted shelving, with a pressed connector that adds strength and visual character.

This connection lets the shelving expand, contract and shift into different configurations, and Jasper is already considering how the same system could work for benches, tables and other furniture.

For IDS, Jasper finished the prototype in an almost electric blue.

Part of that was practical: he wanted it to stand out against the show’s white walls. Part of it was also a reaction to the region’s rather safer design palette.

“I find a lot of the furniture here in the Pacific Northwest is a lot of beige and softer colours, so I wanted to differentiate the piece,” he says.

Inlay was selected for the IDS Vancouver 2026 Prototype Judges Choice Award by Tanja Breadner of Marrimor Objects , David Keeler of Provide and Noah Morse of Sundays , in an exhibition curated by Kaito Forth .

The show also put Jasper in front of interior designers and architects — exactly the people who may eventually specify or work with pieces like his.

“To meet those kinds of people and to make those connections and hear what they’re looking for, what’s catching their eyes. That was really special,” he says.

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As co-founder of a living-wall company, Tim Suddaby has fielded some unusual orders.

Including requests for a wall of live cherry tomatoes, says Suddaby, who founded Maple Ridge-based Vertical Oxygen with his wife, Nathalie Callede, in 2011.

But not everything grows on a wall. For indoor installations, the company relies on tropical plants, including edible perennials such as Cuban oregano and Vietnamese cilantro.

“People go to the grocery store and say, ‘Oh, I want parsley on my wall.’” But seasonal plants, he explains, eventually die or go dormant, making them unsuitable for permanent installations.

Vertical Oxygen began designing and installing hydroponic living walls in Golden, B.C. Suddaby was building environmentally friendly homes and looking for ways to filter and humidify indoor air using plants. Callede’s horticultural background helped inspire their first experiments with aquaponic living walls, which incorporated edible plants and fish.

After a stint in Calgary, the couple returned to B.C. eight years ago, establishing their business in Maple Ridge.

Unlike modular, off-the-rack alternatives, Vertical Oxygen’s installations are custom-designed.

“Every living wall we build has a custom height and width. There are essentially no limitations on size or shape. We can build curved walls and all kinds of configurations.”

For homeowners, installation is relatively straightforward, Suddaby says. The company typically starts with a photograph of the proposed location.

“The main thing we need is wall space,” he says. “Beyond that, we need electricity and a water line.”

Strong, direct southern sunlight is best avoided, and indoor installations require supplemental lighting to compensate for the Lower Mainland’s short winter days.

Vertical Oxygen’s projects range from private residences to hospitals, retail stores and public buildings. The company recently completed a large living wall at a new RCMP station in Moncton, New Brunswick, and is preparing for its biggest installation yet: a 70-foot-wide wall at an Indigenous healing centre in Winnipeg.

At this year’s Vancouver Fall Home Show , however, the company will be introducing visitors to something relatively new in its product line.

“Most of our work has involved interior living walls, but at the Vancouver Fall Home Show, we’ll have both an interior and an exterior installation on display.”

Exterior living walls can transform fences, concrete surfaces or otherwise unremarkable building exteriors into vertical gardens.

“These are systems that can grow outdoors in the Lower Mainland without any problem,” Suddaby says.

Cost for hydroponic living walls is $205 per square foot “with any rough-in for plumbing or electrical and lights extra,” Suddaby says.

Whether indoors or out, living walls require ongoing maintenance, including fertilization and trimming. Vertical Oxygen offers maintenance contracts, with teams visiting installations every two weeks.

Maintenance is $4-5 per square foot based on biweekly visits and a 100 per cent plant and component replacement for no additional cost.

“If one plant dies, we replace it free of charge,” Suddaby says.

Exterior living walls are typically maintained monthly not biweekly.

The company will also be offering something beyond its living-wall displays at the show: a lesson in the often-overlooked histories of familiar houseplants.

“We want people to think differently about what we casually call houseplants,” Suddaby says.

An educational display will highlight four plant varieties, exploring their origins and traditional uses through QR codes.

Among them is the rubber plant, a member of the ficus family. In parts of India, the roots of certain ficus trees have been trained over generations to form living bridges, some of which remain in use today.

The display was partly inspired by the company’s upcoming Indigenous healing centre project in Winnipeg.

Suddaby hopes visitors will come away with a greater appreciation of plants they might otherwise take for granted.

“That plant that’s been sitting in your office for 23 years might have a fascinating history and an important traditional use that you’ve never considered.”

Visitors will also have a chance to win a six-foot-tall houseplant in a raffle at the company’s booth.

The Vancouver Fall Home Show runs from Oct. 15 to 18 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, West. Find the Main Stage and Cooking Stage schedule, a rundown of features and workshops, plus show hours and tickets at vancouverfallhomeshow.com.

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It’s not easy being first-time homebuyers in British Columbia. Not only can they face high pricing, they also have myriad mortgage rules and decisions to navigate.

The upside is that first-timers can access several programs to assist with a down payment and maximize their purchasing power.

First-time buyers need a down payment of at least five per cent of a home’s price to qualify for a mortgage insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and other insurers.

“First-timers typically want space [and are] looking for a two-bedroom unit,” says Glenn Issler, Vancouver mortgage broker with Simple Mortgage Solutions.

However, two-bedroom units in B.C. are often priced upwards of $600,000, Issler adds, noting that under current rules, that five-per-cent applies only to the first $500,000.

Buyers are then required to have 10 per cent of the cost above $500,000, to a maximum purchase price of $1.5 million. Sums above $1.5 million require 20 per cent, he adds.

First-timers can access two federal programs to save for the down payment: the First Home Savings Account, or FHSA, and the Home Buyers’ Plan, or HBP.

Under the FHSA, first-time buyers can contribute up to $8,000 annually with a lifetime maximum of $40,000. As well, contributors receive a tax deduction. “The FHSA is very popular because it’s so easy to use and beneficial,” says Brian Sloman, mortgage agent at Ratehub.ca in Vancouver.

The money can grow up to 15 years and be withdrawn tax-free to purchase a first home.

The HBP, meantime, benefits those with a Registered Retirement Savings Plan, or RRSP.

The plan lets them borrow up to $60,000 from an RRSP for a first home. Additionally, buyers can combine both plans, and couples can further lump their savings together, maximizing purchasing power, Sloman adds.

The federal stress test, designed to ensure borrowers can afford a mortgage if rates move significantly higher, requires borrowers qualify at the higher of either the five-year fixed benchmark rate, or two percentage points above their offered rate.

Sloman says most buyers must qualify at the offered rate, plus the two per cent. “One way to increase their chance of qualifying is a 30-year amortization instead of the standard 25-year.”

Issler also notes that the federal government’s waiving of the GST on new homes can reduce first-time buyers’ costs by tens of thousands of dollars. “It’s among a few stackable credits and rebates significantly cutting purchasing costs.”

Others includes CMHC’s Eco Plus program, which provides a 25-per-cent rebate on mortgage insurance on new, energy-efficient homes. (Other insurers offer similar programs, he adds.)

B.C.’s First Time Home Buyers’ Program is another rebate, available for resale homes. It eliminates the property transfer tax for first-timers on the first $500,000 of a home price, saving $8,000. They also receive a partial exemption beyond that, up to $835,000.

“Altogether, these significantly reduce down payments first-time buyers need to buy a home,” Issler says.

Ask many Vancouverites what they think of the Vancouver Special, and you’ll likely get a shrug — or worse. But designer Jenalee Nordstrom sees something else in these boxy two-storey vintage homes: a perfect “rectangle of opportunity”.

On a recent renovation, Nordstrom set out to rehabilitate not just the house, but the image of these structures, which went up across the city by the thousands from the 1960s to the ’80s.

“I wanted to change people’s understanding of what these homes can truly be,” says Nordstrom, principal designer and CEO of Vancouver design-build firm Schédio Spaces.

“People really don’t think of them as architecturally significant, but I think they are. They changed the landscape of the city in a major way.”

For decades, they weren’t exactly desirable, though. Dismissed by many as eyesores, they were leftovers of a time when owners were free to chase square footage, and the city didn’t mind cosy proximity to property lines. The blocky architecture was partly cost-driven: two stacked boxes and a shallow roof were simple and affordable to build. Ornate Mediterranean details — arches, stucco, iron railings, red roof tiles, decorative columns — were optional but encouraged, it seems.

In recent years, however, some buyers have caught on to how roomy these homes are — and how solid. The package appealed to Nordstrom’s clients: a corporate lawyer and a pediatric lung specialist from Ontario who were planning a move west.

Before they purchased a home, they came to Schédio for help pinpointing the right space to renovate. They wanted something “very West Coast” and “very Vancouver,” Nordstrom says. After touring dozens of properties together, they landed on a partially gutted 2,710-square-foot Vancouver Special on the city’s east side.

Schédio’s team stripped the structure back to its Douglas fir skeleton, retaining the oversized footprint, but raising the roof with scissor trusses to allow for nearly 16-foot ceilings on the second floor. “We reused over 90 per cent of the wood from the original framing in our new framing, and even in some of the structures behind the millwork,” Nordstrom says.

When it came to style, the family trusted Nordstrom to capture their offbeat personality. This would be a long-term home, so they felt free to make bold choices and not stress about resale. “A couple of times they were like, ‘I feel like you’re holding back. You can go further’,” recalls Nordstrom. “Very rarely do people say that …”

“They’re both highly professional individuals, but also very light spirited,” she adds. “They were open to having some fun and playing and not worried about what people would think.”

“Sophisti-quirk” is her nickname for the final blend of polish and playfulness.

This willingness to experiment started underfoot, with cork flooring throughout. “They didn’t bat an eyelash at that. They wanted something that was sustainable, and that felt soft and warm under the foot,” she says.

In the colourful, ‘70s-inspired kitchen, the biggest swing was stonework: Brazilian Blue Mare quartzite — with large rust-coloured striations that look like brush strokes — which wraps a hood fan, backsplash and curved custom island base.

The island curves into a fin-like form on one side, loosely inspired by the shape of a guitar, a tribute to the family’s love of playing music together, Nordstrom says.

Textured terra cotta cabinetry plays off the earth tones, while suspended open shelving sets off the space from an adjacent lounge.

For the dining room, Nordstrom designed a long custom concrete-topped table with a leaf for entertaining. But the spotlight here is a bright chartreuse piano, which she sourced, colour-coated and gave to the family as a surprise gift. She’d planned it from one of their earliest conversations: “Emily, the wife, was saying she dreamed of having a piano in their home,” she recalls. “This piano was made in Ontario, in a town right next to where they grew up.”

A living room at the front of the home picks up the same dramatic quartzite as the kitchen. Here, it forms a long bench-style slab extending from a linear gas fireplace, swapped for the traditional wood-burner.

At the back of the home, the construction team made structural reinforcements to add a wall of windows, with a peak that traces the home’s roofline.

Perhaps the most “sophisti-quirk” feature of all is in front of these windows: hammocks built into the floor. Webbing stretches across two openings, allowing sunlight to filter down to a lounge and music room below. The family of four reads and lounges here, Nordstrom says, and the kids play on the netting. “They’ve even had sleepovers there.”

Two and a half years after the family moved into the home, the renovation continues to settle into its role. Nordstrom is now preparing a second phase that will add a pantry and evolve the children’s spaces, among other updates.

It feels in keeping with the earlier work: finding new possibilities within a familiar form, Nordstrom says. “That’s one of the beauties of the Vancouver Special.”

Project design & construction: Schédio Spaces

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As the second-largest country in the world by total area, bounded by three oceans and the United States to the south, Canada is a country of contrasting landscapes with its forests, rolling grasslands, mountain ranges, semi-arid terrain, rivers and lakes. For designers, the countrysides, cities and culture provide an endless source of inspiration.

Jim Toy, principal at B.C.-based False Creek Design Group/Ratio Architecture , says colour, geography, population, history and culture all shape Canadian interior design, while contrasting regional influences highlight a growing, multicultural design voice that creates a ‘melting pot’ of approaches rather than a single easily recognizable national style.

The melting pot pulls in attributes from different cultures, says Toy.

“We have so many different approaches. There isn’t one standout in terms of a design movement right now and I don’t think there needs to be because of this wide range that we come from. And I think that’s terribly important to maintain.”

Canadian interior design has been heavily influenced by the U.S. by virtue of its location and size, says Toy.

“But Canadian design has always had what I call more of an unassuming, modest attitude. But now it’s time to go global, and inward,” he says, adding there is currently a missing middle in [Canadian] design — the supply chain.

“We’ve got to act quickly on this if we’re going to be sustainable,” says Toy.

As he contemplates design influences across Canada, Toy also draws on personal experience as a designer who works across the country and has homes in B.C. and Nova Scotia — along with fond memories of the Prairies.

“Being a Prairie boy originally — I was born in Manitoba — the thing that I notice is there seems to be a lot of references, especially through colour, to landscape,” he says.

Maca Atencio , a Venezuelan-born Montreal-based designer, tapped into those references when paint manufacturer Behr asked her to explore Canada not through a map — but through colour. The result is the Great Canadian Colour Story — a collection of five curated colours available exclusively at Home Depot — inspired by the country’s distinct geographical regions.

Atencio notices a growing trend of Canadians embracing bolder colours in interiors, not only on walls but also on furniture, accessories and art, and references ideas like ‘red theory,’ where placing a single red object or pop of the colour in a room is believed to boost mood.

“Little things that are just changing the way we think about how we decorate our houses and using colour is one of them,” she says.

“That’s something that makes me very, very happy and I hope this colour [collection] inspires them even more,” she adds.

Atencio says the hues she chose not only represent landscapes but also evoke emotion and a sense of belonging in interior spaces across the country.

“We wanted to celebrate the landscape of our country. And of course, what makes each region very unique and how people call these different regions home,” she says.

Reflecting on her assignment, Atencio says the challenge was to interpret each region’s unique perspective through colour.

“It was: how can we interpret each of these beautiful and magnificent regions that we have through a unique perspective and a colour? [In] Canada, we have so many natural, incredible resources [an] that was what helped [me] to come up with the inspiration behind each colour,” she says.

“For Atlantic Canada, when you see the greens, it’s like the forest, the ancient notes that you see in the different parts of that region,” she says, explaining her choice of Secret Meadow to represent that region in the collection.

“In Central Canada, the blue to me was a key because we have been shaped by the water. The St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes. It’s part of what makes us, us,” she says adding that inspiration led to choosing Charter Blue for the Great Canadian Colour Story palette, while Harmonious Gold evokes the Prairies and Sea Ice echoes the shades of the North.

“When I visited [the West Coast and] Vancouver, I was just in awe of the biodiversity, the coastal waters and how rich the wildlife is,” she recalls, sharing how she decided on King Salmon , described as an “energetic orange,” to complete the collection.

Wildlife and rich landscapes also inspire Deborah Edwards, design director at Northcott, a Canadian company that designs and distributes cotton fabric.

Quilts, nowadays considered more of an art form than a way to recycle used fabrics, often feature designed blocks of colour and pieces stitched together to tell a story, and Edwards leaned into the country’s colours, stories and culture as inspiration for her fabric designs that are now part of thousands of quilts across the country.

With a career spanning more than four decades in the home decor industry — including 16 years as design director at Northcott — Edwards most enjoys designing quilting fabrics.

“Quilting fabrics have allowed me to explore an extraordinary world of colour, pattern and creativity, where the possibilities truly feel limitless. This freedom to create, innovate and tell stories through design has made this the most inspiring and rewarding chapter of my career,” she says.

One of those stories dates back to Edwards’ early days at Northcott when she met with the then-president of Quilts of Valour (QOV), a non-profit program that provides quilts to injured Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans and realized there was an opportunity to unite her passion for quilting with a meaningful cause. She initiated the idea of creating a fabric collection to honour Canada’s veterans and also support QOV.

The result is the Oh Canada collection, a celebration of Canada’s heritage and national identity, featuring many of the country’s most recognizable symbols, including iconic landmarks, native wildlife, and, of course, the maple leaf.

“Over the years, I have reimagined the maple leaf in a wide variety of scales, styles and colours, allowing it to remain both familiar and fresh within each collection,” says Edwards.

Now entering the 16th edition of the Oh Canada collection Edwards works closely with QOV’s current president, Lisa Compton, to bring each new collection to life.

In addition to the Oh Canada collection Edwards has also designed many other Northcott ranges.

“I have had the privilege of creating several collections featuring the work of Mark Anthony Jacobson, an Indigenous artist based in B.C. His artwork is deeply rooted in Indigenous culture and storytelling, with each piece offering a meaningful perspective on Indigenous life and heritage,” she says.

Many of her designs draw inspiration from the remarkable diversity and natural beauty of the Canadian landscape. Northern Peaks, Deep Blue and Lone Wolf, for example, were specifically inspired by the breathtaking landscapes and distinctive wildlife of B.C., she says.

Several of these collections feature signature panel prints designed to serve as a focal point within a quilt or as a stand-alone wall hanging.

“These panels allow me to capture the essence of the Canadian wilderness while offering quilters a versatile and impactful design element,” adds Edwards.

Impactful design suited to geographical location played a major role during the reno of Jim Toy’s family home in Nova Scotia. Toy took into account the harsh winters and high winds and installed triple-glazed windows, acoustic blackout blinds, resilient commercial vinyl plank flooring instead of hardwood, and restaurant-grade clear sealants on wood millwork to achieve a natural look that is virtually waterproof.

But it was culture that defined the home’s new floorplan.

“Maritimers love congregating in kitchens — they hold what’s called kitchen parties,” says Toy who made sure to include a kitchen large enough to host about eight people to share stories, music and good food.

Ultimately, while colour, history and landscape all play a part in interior design across the country, culture often binds those influences together, reflecting the diverse people and places that make Canada home.

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Back in 1874, when homesteaders were prospecting for farmland in the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf Islands were high on their list. With a microclimate similar to the Mediterranean — That is, mild temperatures and more sunshine than the mainland — conditions were prime for planting.

The 105-acre property on North Pender Island’s Davidson Bay, known locally as Clam Bay Farm, has long been particularly attractive: set on a cliff overlooking Navy Channel and across to Mayne Island with just under a kilometre of shoreline, the land has remained a wholly self-sufficient, sustainable organic farm over the decades as it has passed through many hands.

“At one point it was considered for a ferry terminal but they would have had to dredge out the whole bay, so that didn’t happen,” says listing agent Nicole Eastman of Sotheby’s International Realty. “One owner thought about turning it into a golf course. Another was known for having pretty good parties with live music in the barn, which still has a dance floor.”

A retired math teacher called it AfterMath; an Air Canada pilot commuted to YVR aboard his private plane; a business owner from Alberta established a 5.5-acre winery (leased to the island’s Sea Star Winery) and hosted weddings; and, in 2011, an American investor envisioned a sanctuary from an increasingly chaotic world. “He didn’t want to have tourism or agribusiness use of the property; he just wanted to have the farm for the sake of having his own farm.”

The property has expanded from the original barn and other outbuildings, as well as an early farmhouse built in the 1960s, to include a sawmill, a water treatment plant, farm worker and guest accommodation, caretaker’s cabin, a beach house, and gazebo.

In addition to the vineyard, the farm grows fruit trees and haskap berry bushes, with open pastureland for more crops or animal grazing. A pond with fountain attracts otters, Canada geese and Mallard ducks.

A 260-foot pier with a 50-foot dock that juts into Davidson Bay can support a vehicle travelling its length.

To create his own private hideaway, the current owner commissioned renowned West Coast Modern architects Bo Helliwell and Kim Smith of Blue Sky Architecture to design and build a uniquely stunning home, called The Point House, that gently blends in with the old-growth forest on one side and overlooks the ocean on the other.

The curved, Douglas fir rooflines, which mimic the shape of the shoreline and the mountains on Mayne Island, guide rainwater to capture points beneath. Red cedar shakes, stone and glass complete the exterior, and a landscaped entry court, expansive decks and patios that open to the sunny south elevation with outdoor barbecue and wine fridge are perfect for entertaining or communing with surrounding forests of fir, arbutus and maple trees.

Unfortunately, family in Europe has kept the owner away too often, so his dream home has never been lived in.

What’s inside

“The builder managed to create a perfectly curved wall, which is crazy,” says Eastman of Blue Sky’s signature curved lines and organic form designs, with wood craftsmanship throughout by Gulf Island Artisan Homes. “The Gulf Islands attract a lot of artists, artisans and craftsmen so you get superior work from such a small community” of less than 3,000 permanent residents.

Custom pivot front doors lead into more than 6,600 square feet of open-concept space with vaulted ceilings and continuous clerestory windows with fir detailing that capture forest and ocean views. A split-granite, wood-burning fireplace anchors the living room and dining room, with additional lounges, a family room, utility room and storage completing the lower space. Upstairs is a den/office with more sea views.

Floors are wide plank European white oak and Italian Pietra Piasentina stone tiles (bathrooms also feature Pietra Piasentina stone detailing). All doors are custom made, also from wide planks of European white oak.

“The (builders) tried to use as much wood from the surrounding forest so that the home blends into and honours the surrounding landscape,” says Eastman.

Walls are finished with lime paint which gives the impression of soft suede, and floating drywall (no baseboards).

The quasi-commercial kitchen features hand-painted custom cabinets and a hidden stainless-steel prep surface, as well as stone countertops; Vulcan professional propane nine-burner induction stove; concealed dishwasher, fridge and full-length standup freezer; as well as a pizza oven.

The home comprises five bedrooms, three of which, including the primary (which also has a walk-in closet) have soaker tubs, and seven bathrooms, six of which feature rain showers, with European fixtures and concealed drain sinks.

There’s also a gym, wine cellar/grotto, and three-car garage, with plenty of room elsewhere on the property for a variety of additional vehicles.

“A property like this is a legacy property, so it (would appeal to) someone who values living in harmony with nature, farming and working with the land but who also wants to live in a beautiful home,” says Eastman. “It could also attract a family looking for their own retreat or refuge for themselves and future generations.”

In the neighbourhood

B.C. Ferries serves Otter Bay, Pender Island, from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.

In addition to the farmers market at the Community Hall, the island has a specialty grocery store a five-minute drive away called Southridge Country Store, Tru Value Foods 10 minutes away, and the smaller Port Browning Marina Store, 11 minutes by car.

There’s also a half-dozen nearby pubs and eateries, most of which serve island grown ingredients, a bakery and handmade truffles from Pender Chocolates.

Pender Islands Elementary Secondary School, a 12-minute drive away, teaches kindergarten through Grade 9 while students in Grades 10 through 12 attend Gulf Islands Secondary School on Salt Spring Island.

Water sports include kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, sailing and boating. There are also many scenic hikes, including the Mount Norman Trail up to the highest point on South Pender for the best views; the Roe Lake Trail Loop around Roe Lake in The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve; the Mount Menzies Trail that traverses a native coastal forest ecosystem and up to beautiful views across the sea to Saturna and the U.S. San Juan Islands; the George Hill Trail, known as the “prettiest place on Pender” for its expansive views of Mayne, Saturna and Galiano Islands; and, especially for kids, the Enchanted Forest trail with its hidden fairy doors tucked into tree roots.

Location:3200 Clam Bay Road, North Pender Island, B.C.

Listed for: $17,800,000

Year built: 2022

Type: Five bedrooms, seven bathrooms

Size: 6,603 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Nicole Eastman, Hague Eastman and Associates, Sotheby’s International Realty

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Furniture that doesn’t try too hard does feel particularly West Coast.

Warm wood, natural stone, useful storage and simple forms tend to feel more at home here than anything overly polished or precious. It’s a sensibility that Vancouver company Sundays and Sophie Burke Design have put forward in Harbour, Sundays’ first full collection collaboration.

Including pieces for the bedroom, living room, dining room and home office, Harbour was conceived as a collection for the whole home rather than a single statement piece.

For Sophie Burke, principal of Vancouver-based Sophie Burke Design, the appeal of working with Sundays was partly that shared emphasis on livability.

“I love how approachable Sundays furniture is. It’s beautiful and carefully considered, but also warm and relaxed. It’s designed for real life, which appeals to me,” she says.

A West Coast point of view

The collection draws on familiar materials — walnut, pale oak, Carrara marble and teak — but its West Coast character is less literal than simply placing nature-inspired motifs on furniture.

Burke says living and working in Vancouver has inevitably influenced how she thinks about interiors.

“We’re surrounded by ocean, mountains and forest, and I think that naturally draws us towards materials that feel tactile and authentic, and colours and forms that are quieter and more restrained,” says Burke.

That influence also extends to how people actually use their homes.

“There’s an informality to the way people live here that was important to me — I wanted the furniture to feel beautiful and considered, but also relaxed, comfortable and easy to live with,” she says.

For Harbour, that translated into straightforward forms, natural materials and furniture intended to last beyond a decorating cycle.

Noah Morse, co-founder and head of product at Sundays, sees the same quality in contemporary Canadian design.

“I think there’s a confidence in West Coast design right now that doesn’t need to be loud. Harbour is warm and understated, with natural materials and really considered proportions,” he says.

Morse and Burke’s connection goes back years in Vancouver.

In his twenties, Morse worked at Inform Interiors, where Burke was a client. Years later, after Sundays launched, he discovered she had begun specifying some of the company’s furniture in her own projects.

“When I heard she was interested in expanding into furniture design, I jumped at the opportunity,” Morse says.

Rather than attach a designer’s name to one or two products, Sundays wanted the collaboration to extend across an entire collection.

“With Sophie, there was such a natural alignment in how we think about home, materials and longevity that the opportunity was there to build an entire collection together, rather than just one or two pieces,” he says.

Burke says clients increasingly want spaces that are functional, personal and comfortable.

“I think fall and winter are times when people begin spending more time in their homes again. They are looking for their homes to be functional with spaces that really work for their needs.”

Morse sees a similar shift away from rapid decorating cycles.

“There’s so much available to us now, and trends move incredibly quickly, but I think the response to that is a desire for ‘fewer, better things,’ meaning pieces with real materials, warmth and longevity that can become part of your life rather than being replaced when the next trend arrives.”

The most important thing is to choose pieces you really love rather than what feels current, says Burke.

Good proportions, robust materials and classic lines matter too, particularly when furniture needs to work with different rooms, art and objects collected over time.

“I’m a big believer that everything in your home should have a reason for being there. I feel that way about my own home, right down to the cutlery,” says Morse.

Favourite pieces from this collection

For Burke, it is the Harbour Bookshelf, which combines open shelving with closed storage.

The appeal lies partly in its ability to accommodate the realities of everyday life: cupboards conceal what doesn’t need displaying, while open sections create what Burke describes as “‘frames’ for books, art, and the objects you collect over time,” she says.

Morse chooses the Harbour Desk.

“It feels very distinctly Sophie — understated and refined with just enough detail to give it character without feeling over-designed,” he says.

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Sun loving, drought tolerant and cold hardy: hydrangeas have spiked in popularity, especially with so many new and remarkable varieties now available. There are so many, even the professionals are having trouble keeping up.

I think one of the nicest features of H. paniculata grandiflora, or PeeGee, hydrangeas, is that most change colour from a creamy white to beautiful shades of pink or red as the blossoms mature. Some, like H. p. Limelight, start out as a beautiful green shade and then age to cream with varying pink tones.

The H. paniculatas variety also vary in height and breadth, which is an important issue with so many smaller gardens. The standard, or tree form, is another great feature, especially in cramped spaces when a two- to three-metre tree can make a great focal point and also act as a screen.

By far one of the most popular low growing varieties is a Proven Winners introduction called H. p. Bobo. Growing less than one metre tall and about two metres wide, it is one of the earliest to bloom with beautiful white panicles that mature into a pleasing pink.

A close competitor, H. p. Dragon Baby, was introduced by Van Belle Nursery in Abbotsford. It opens with slightly smaller triangular blooms with a touch of green, which quickly turn white and finally finishes as a rich pink. I find it always looks perky and stays very low in the two-to-three-foot range.

Another Van Belle introduction, H.p. Bubble Bath, is gaining attention heads because of its low-mounding form. It also opens lime green, and its huge blossoms age to rosy pink. It’s also a shorty, only getting up to one metre tall and wide.

One of the newest developments by Van Belle is H. p. Hot Sauce, which has more distinct triangular panicles that open a creamy white and then turn pink and red. It’s another very compact variety, growing to less than one metre tall, and it keeps blooming well into autumn.

Last of the shorties is another Proven Winner H.p. Fire Light Tidbit. Similar to H.p. Bobo, with a mounding habit, it also starts out as bright lime, transitioning to white and then quickly turning to a dragon-fruit neon pink. Another feature is its beautiful fiery, orange-red fall foliage.

The popular lime family is always expanding and improving. H.p. Limelight was the original strong-stemmed lime hydrangea, growing up to two metres tall and wide. It is very impressive, but as the blossoms age the green can change into pink and ultimately burgundy in the fall. A shorter, more compact form is called H.p. Little Lime is about half the size of the original with the same colours.

H.p. Little Lime Punch is very similar to Little Lime in size, but the difference comes as the flowers begin to age. Green turns to a festive blend of pink, green, white, and Hawaiian Punch red. It is not only vibrant but very uplifting. In addition to all these varieties, Proven Winners recently introduced H. p. Limelight Prime. It is a very strong plant with darker green foliage and grows to about two metres tall and wide. This new variety holds its lime colour weeks before transforming into a nice bubble gum pink, like their famous petunia. It is the ultimate Limelight icon.

There are also a number of mid-sized varieties available and Van Belle has introduced some very good ones. H.p. Candelabra has significantly larger, creamy triangular panicles that slowly age out to pink and finally turn red for autumn. Growing just over one metre tall, it has a beautiful upright form.

Another nice mid-sized variety with a strong upright form is H.p. Bouncy which features more pointed triangular panicles that hold their nice lime/white colour before turning pink in late summer going into fall.

H.p. Moonrock, which is another lime-cream combination in the four-to-six-foot range sports good sized flowers that hold their colour well into autumn. It is a distinctly beautiful variety.

H.p. Torch is a more open-flowering variety with creamy flowers eventually colouring up to pink and red in late spring and hanging in all summer into fall.

A significant change from the usual mid-sized varieties, H.p. Puffer Fish is really unique: the huge flowers are fluffy white and often obscure the plants’ foliage. Unlike other varieties, the creamy white flowers turn and hold a pure white colour. It is a first-class performer.

H.p. PowerBall has a very unique inflorescent panicle, more reminiscent of the macrophylla hydrangeas. Growing up to six feet tall and wide its super-round blooms open a refreshing green, lighten up a little as they mature, and finally turn a deep rich pink. It can be grown where many mophead hydrangeas can’t grow in hot sun or severe cold. It is very strong and sturdy and deserves a spot in your garden.

H.p. Pinky Winky has been well known for many years, but Proven Winners has introduced H.p. Pinky Winky Prime which has absolutely huge, pointed panicles on a plant that stretches up to nine feet in size. This bicolour variety has enormous, more deeply hued pink blooms which turn a very hot pink as they age with the colour moving up from the bottom to the top of the flower heads.

Proven Winners’ H.p. Quick Fire Fab is one of the more striking tall varieties. Growing to almost two metres wide, it has football sized flowers opening a coconut white and quickly turning a beautiful watermelon red. The pink darkens from the base of the flowers to the tip here as well. What’s interesting is that the tips stay lime green in contrast to the emerging hot pink. It’s an eye-popping plant and one that warrants a home in a larger garden space. The Quick Fire family is also one of the earliest to bloom.

The demand for all of these hydrangeas has truly surprised many growers this year as some varieties sold out early. Their long-lasting beauty, tolerance to both heat and drought, especially this summer, has truly increased their value as more climate-appropriate plants. That only enhances the value of their long blooming habits and many stunning colour changes.

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

3738 West 24th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Two-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,448 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,476,500

Listed for: $2,275,000

Sold for: $2,100,000

Sold on: July 25

Days on market in this listing: 36

Listing agent: Colette Gerber at Heller Murch Realty

Buyers agent: William Li at Renanza Realty Inc.

The big sell: According to listing agent Colette Gerber, the value of this south-facing property was mainly in the land thanks to its location west of Dunbar with some of Vancouver’s top schools and myriad conveniences that line Dunbar Street nearby, as well as the potential for a new build to also enjoy views to the north. The current home was built in 1925 and has a simple floor plan with a kitchen, bathroom, dining and living rooms on the main floor and two bedrooms, a bathroom and an office upstairs. There is a spacious covered porch at the front of the house, stained glass windows, hardwood floors with inlay detailing, crown molding, a gas fireplace, and an AGA stove in the kitchen offset by a traditional tiled backsplash. The garden has plenty of opportunity to keep green thumbs busy and for piece of mind, a certificate shows that the oil tank had been removed.

710 — 2888 Cambie St., Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment

Size: 1,633 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,873,000

Listed for: $1,999,800

Sold for: $1,985,000

Sold on: June 24

Days on market in this listing: Six

Listing agent: Jessica Chen PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Jannelle de la Torre and Teresa Comeau at ReMax Select Realty

The big sell: What is unique about the sale of this condo in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood is that it sold alongside the adjacent unit giving the ability to combine the two and create a five-bedroom one-level suite that expands the layout to 2,800 square feet. The homes reside in The Spot on Cambie Street, a mid-rise concrete building that was built in 2017 with central air conditioning, concierge services, a fitness centre, rooftop terrace and EV-ready parking. This particular unit has a northeasterly corner position with an interior design that demonstrates Craftsman-inspired finishings with wide hallways, custom built-ins, a gourmet Bosch kitchen, upgraded lighting, and an 800-square-foot private terrace with panoramic North Shore Mountain and city vistas. Combined with the neighbouring property, there will be six parking stalls in total and two storage lockers, while the strata permits pets and rentals.

8340 Lunen Rd., Richmond

Type: Five-bedroom, four-bathroom detached

Size: 3,648 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,218,000

Listed for: $2,099,000

Sold for: $1,965,000

Sold on: July 24

Days on market in this listing: 14

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Margaret Song PREC at Macdonald Realty Westmar

The big sell: This split-level home resides on a lot size in excess of 9,200 square feet in Richmond’s Garden City district. Built in 1976, it features four bedrooms on the upper floor and one ensuited bedroom on the ground floor alongside the main living space, a media room and an open den. The house was fully updated inside and out with a permitted expansion added in 1994 that included a wok kitchen, a south-facing breakfast nook, and a spacious family room. The ground floor features vaulted ceilings with skylights and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace in the living room, a formal dining area next to the well-equipped kitchen, and an enclosed 200-square-foot sunroom that leads out to the landscaped south-facing backyard complete with a water fountain surrounded by a rockery. There is also an integrated double garage to the front of the property with additional driveway parking.

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

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

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