Organic Gardening News

In the darkest, coldest time of year, with the holidays over and the evening light displays disappearing, we can all use a little pick-me-up. For the gardening community, it’s a seed catalogue.

Paging through the vegetable sections, looking at all the new and heritage varieties of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, and thinking about where you can fit in all the new ones … going through the annuals, with so many vibrant colours, and imagining where you can fit them into your containers and baskets … is one of the most uplifting winter experiences I can think of. You can almost taste the various herbs, like thyme, sage and coriander or cilantro, as you page through the catalogue. Each section promises meaningful additions to which we can look forward.

Garden stores are already receiving racks of seeds and folks are all ready for a good, long browse. The best thing is, you can pick up your seeds now and store them until you are safe to get them started and planted out. It’s also the best time to pick up those varieties that are often in short supply, so you’ll have your favourites for your garden and containers.

The seed business, worldwide, is expanding because seeds are the least expensive way of either growing your own food or adding colour to your home garden. When you think about it, it’s pretty amazing what a tiny speck of a seed can produce in a relatively short period of time. As with all things to do with gardening, a little strategic planning in your planting, and the experience you gain, go a long way to achieving success.

I love that the garden media folks in the U.S. who track trends in gardening and have designated 2026 as “The Year of Lemonading”. They have characterized it as “transforming setbacks into opportunities through creativity, mindfulness, and a sense of joy.” It simply means turning the experience of gardening into more joyful learning and breaking free from being “wrong.” Treat gardening “fails” as experiments, laughing at it, and getting on with it in a positive frame of mind.

Learning to have success with seeds is just that. After 50-plus years of growing plants from seed, and even when everything has supposedly been done just the way it should be, somehow something messes up. Get over it, learn from it and do it again, but be more mindful of how you achieve success, in a positive way, and have a chuckle over it.

The most important lesson seeds can teach us is a sense of timing. Weather is fickle, and if you are planning for an early start, be extra cautious. It’s always better to be a bit later than too early when starting seeds. Most seed catalogues will give you approximate seeding dates, so use them.

It’s also critical to keep a diary or journal of when and how you start everything you seed. When next year comes around, it will be invaluable information, which you will constantly be updating.

Even though spring weather can be fickle, every day we get more daylight and the soil becomes warmer. The silver bullet is having a cold frame or somewhere you can place your sprouted seedlings to acclimatize them, allowing them to toughen up without stretching. Small greenhouse structures, covered with poly are ideal, even up on your decks. You will need to have a small electric heather for cool evenings, but young seedlings can stay in there for weeks until the ground is warm enough to set them out.

Onions are a prime example; large Spanish-type type onions, as well as novelty varieties, need an early start to develop their sweetness. We usually seed them in late January to have strong seedlings ready to go out early, but because February and early March weather can be very frosty and cold, we hold them in cold houses for three to four weeks after they have germinated. As a result, the plants are much stronger and are very resilient when they go out to tolerate light frosts. Early vegetables like lettuce, Swiss chard and all the early brassicas are started in late February and hardened off to go out in mid to late March.

For early colour, pansies and violas are started in early January and hardened off for setting out mid-March. This gives you a sense of timing for some of the earlier starts.

Direct seeding for bigger, cold hardy, vegetables like peas, Broad beans, and radishes can usually start when we get consistent daytime temperatures of 10°C.

Raised beds and garden areas that are more protected from cooler prevailing winds will allow you an earlier start, too, since raised beds will generally be 4-8°C warmer than garden bed soil.

As for indoor seeding, there are a few basics: Use cell packs of various sizes so you can germinate smaller numbers of seeds at a time, in relation to the size of your garden. We reuse planting trays over and over again by sterilizing with a 10 per cent bleach solution between crops.

A good seed starting mix is also very important. You must have good drainage, but also enough moisture retention to keep the seeds viable.

More and more often, I’m finding that heat mats are almost essential to keep a consistent average temperature for even germination. You will find your percentage of germination will improve dramatically with these mats.

Watering cans with a good nozzle that will provide even watering with smaller openings for more gentle streams is critically important. Always use warm, never cold, water!

To control the height of your seedlings and stop them from stretching, overhead lighting is essential. Keep the light source close to your seeding trays for the best results and leave the lights on 24 hours a day.

Once the seeds have begun to crack and germinate, you need to check them two or three times a day to ensure they have just the right amount of moisture.

Clear plastic overhead domes or covers and important to control both heat and humidity.

Once your seeds have sprouted and true leaves begin to develop, move them to a cold frame with cooler temperatures and good light. Keep them drier with good air circulation, allowing them to toughen and strengthen up. If you see any sign of wilting or “dampening off,” use a mist of garden sulphur or an organic fungicide to protect them.

If you have challenges, re-evaluate your procedures, but don’t blame the seed. The seed we have in Canada has been tested for germination and is some of the best in the world. Most of all, have fun and celebrate your successes with seeds.

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For some people it seems effortless: a casually placed quilt softens the angles on a chair, throw pillows pick up a colour from a much-loved artwork and a layout that naturally guides movement through the space. Together these design choices create that indefinable feeling of comfort and welcome. For those still searching for the combinations to create that ambience, colour and design experts have plenty of insights to share.

Colour is an important element in interior design that can significantly impact the ambience and mood of a home. Indeed, says Langley-based colour expert Maria Killam , “it is a magical thing that can make you absolutely love your space.”

It’s all about choosing the right colour, the hue that will pull the whole room together, says Killam who runs an edesign business and has developed a colour system and neutral colour wheel to help people select the paint colour that will connect all the elements in their space.

Killam believes colour is more timeless than neutral trends, and that a space should incorporate a variety of design elements beyond paint colour, such as lighting, art and decor accessories to create a cohesive and visually appealing environment.

With a varied colour palette in her own home Killam often leans into her favourite colour — yellow — the colour science tells us stimulates the production of serotonin, the natural feel-good chemical linked to happiness and calmness.

The yellow bench and wet weather wellies in the entryway of her home are the first hint of Killam’s favourite hue — but there’s more to come. In the living room a custom yellow sofa brings an injection of the colour into the space while the citrus colour also shows up in the wallpaper, Jardin Bloom by Thibaut . In Killam’s dressing room and a vestibule leading to an office/study, Benjamin Moore’s Hannah Banana continues the colour connection.

However, Killam cautions that because paint covers so much of a room’s surface area, it’s easy to focus too intently on colour alone.

“People want paint colour to do all the heavy lifting, but in actual fact you need art, pillows, coffee table books — all those things to make your home feel alive. A paint colour isn’t enough to bring that feeling into your house,” she says.

As an example, when she moved into her house three years ago, she created a mood board for every room.

“I knew that piece of art in the living room in my last house was now going to go in my primary bedroom. That art has lavender in it. I painted the tray ceilings lavender,” she recalls.

In the living room the ceilings are painted blue.

“Even if you don’t have a lot of blue in your decorating, if you paint your ceiling a pale blue people don’t even notice because it feels like the sky. It feels natural and normal to have a blue ceiling.”

In addition to colour choices, Killam is on a mission to encourage the use of lamps rather than “overhead operating room lights.”

“Whenever I infuse a collection of six to eight lamps in anyone’s main living area, they are a convert. They never want to go back to putting on the overheads,” she says.

Kari Henshaw, principal at Vancouver-based Insight Design Group , agrees it’s hard to explain what gives a home that indefinable but special quality that makes everyone comfortable in the space.

“We’re always striving to make your house feel like a home. There’s an unexplainable thing when you walk into a space and you just automatically feel at home — or experience a sense of calmness — and it’s not necessarily that it’s your taste or your style, but there’s something about that space making you automatically feel comfortable,” she says.

Henshaw says the home’s layout can impact the senses; the scale and positioning furniture and the cohesiveness of the design all play a part.

“As you enter your home, keeping it free of clutter immediately helps with the visual flow throughout your space,” she says, adding that having flooring finishes continuous through the space helps create a seamless, cohesive look.

“Both flooring and paint being the same from one space to another (especially in a smaller home) helps keep things feeling more open and spacious,” she says.

Natural light is always a friend to opening up your space, says Henshaw.

“In addition to a focus on letting the light in, it is important not to block windows with large and bulky pieces of furniture. It’s not preferred to see the back of furniture from outside as you enter the home, or to see the backs of big pieces of furniture blocking transition within the space,” says Henshaw.

She also emphasizes the value of layering.

“For me, layering is important. Playing around with lots of different texture and patterns, adds coziness. Finding that perfect area rug helps make a grouping and pulls things together. It automatically grounds the space. And then I don’t over clutter with a lot of stuff, I pick the perfect, or almost perfect items, and put them where they belong and really help balance the space,” she says.

While many people know the “rule of three” — grouping decorative accents in groups of three, often at three different heights — there’s another important “three” in interior design, says Henshaw, noting interior designers play an integral role in the design of new buildings, such as condo developments.

“We’re brought in at the very beginning with the architect, mechanical, structural, electrical. We can look at a preliminary design and point out there’s no space for a sofa or the dining table with three feet of clearance to pull out a chair before it hits the wall,” she says adding there also needs to be at least three feet between an island and perimeter cabinetry in the kitchen.

Like Killam, Henshaw also advises creating a mood or vision board.

“Create a vision board of what you’re trying to achieve and keep it with you. If you’re out shopping for something, stay true to your vision, don’t get sidetracked. Ask yourself: ‘Is this my style? Is this the look and vibe that I’m going for. What is the colour palette I want to create? Am I going with cools? Am I going with warms?’ Know what you want before you start off,” says Henshaw.

Mitsu Dhawan, marketing director for Dulux, suggests when choosing colours to create a happy and calm setting in the home, it’s helpful to turn to colour theory and psychology.

Pure, saturated warm colours such as reds, oranges and yellows invigorate and liven up a room and can suit spaces that are open and communal, such as the living room, says Dhawan, but be sure not to overdo these colours to avoid over stimulation. The lighter pastels of these hues (think pink, pale coral and butter) still bring energy and warmth, but with a softer approach.

“Cool colours like blues, greens and purples infuse spaces with a sense of relaxation and calm, helping with concentration as well,” says Dhawan adding these hues help reduce stress and promote peace and rest.

But the most important aspect of creating a happy and comfortable home is surrounding yourself with things that you love, says Henshaw.

“In my own home we spend the most time in a small room. I know that the furniture is probably too big for the space, but I love it and it feels cosy, so I threw through my design ideals out the window. It’s a space I love, it makes me feel good.”

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

1201 — 3315 Cypress Pl., West Vancouver

Type: Two-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment

Size: 2,018 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,197,000

Listed for: $3,000,000

Sold for: $2,950,000

Sold on: Oct. 27

Days on market in this listing: 11

Listing agent: Rahim Jivraj at eXp Realty

Buyers agent: Dale Mounzer PREC at Macdonald Realty

The big sell: According to listing agent Rajim Jivraj, approximately $1.3 million had been invested in a five-year design and build of this West Vancouver condo with a full, down-to-the-studs renovation that warranted a feature in Gray magazine as the winner of a design award in 2024. The reimagined luxury home has a south-facing corner position that bathes in captivating vistas spanning the North Shore Mountains to the Gulf Islands. It resides in StoneCliff, in one of three 15-storey upscale towers that were built by Concert Properties in the district’s Cypress Park Estates. Meticulous detailing and extensive use of natural elements are showcased throughout the suite with custom millwork, a 600-pound cast-concrete bathtub with views, a $50,000 Miele appliance package, Savant home automation system, radiant heat, seven-inch wide-plank engineered hardwood floors, and a private heated two-car garage. The home’s monthly maintenance fee is $1,319.63.

22 — 7331 Heather St., Richmond

Type: Four-bedroom, four-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,522 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,281,000

Listed for: $1,299,000

Sold for: $1,200,000

Sold on: Sept. 29

Days on market in this listing: 14

Listing agent: Candy Lou at Interlink Realty

Buyers agent: Harris First at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: Bayberry Park is a 54-unit townhome development that was constructed by Ledingham McAllister in Richmond’s McLennan North. The 20-year-old complex has an exterior esthetic that evokes a Tudor style with steep gabled rooflines and exposed timber detailing with the properties set around an English garden courtyard. This particular home has been updated with new flooring, appliances, hot water tank, and toilets, and has a corner-unit position that allows for a triple aspect. The front door is approached via a private garden, and opens to a sizable living room that leads through to the dining room and adjacent kitchen. The top floor contains three bedrooms — all equipped with generous closet space — alongside two bathrooms, while the lowest of the three levels has a fourth bedroom and ensuite bathroom, laundry, and access to the attached side-by-side double garage. The home’s monthly maintenance fee is $308.62, and pets and rentals are permitted.

6890 Brooks St., Vancouver

Type: Five-bedroom, four-bathroom half duplex

Size: 1,765 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,961,000

Listed for: $1,799,000

Sold for: $1,795,000

Sold on: Oct. 31

Days on market in this listing: 18

Listing agent: Mark Hammer PREC at eXp Realty

Buyers agent: Peter Mai PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: This recently-completed family-sized front duplex was built by Pavarya Homes in Vancouver’s Killarney neighbourhood. It features attention to detail throughout with custom-built cabinetry, airy 10-foot-high ceilings on the main floor, oversized windows, premium finishings, bespoke millwork in the closets, Fisher & Paykel appliances, engineered hardwood floors, a heated garage at the rear of the property that could be a gym or additional storage space, and a bonus two-bedroom suite in the basement for rental income or for use as a home office. Three bedrooms are located on the upper floor, all with vaulted ceilings, and the 15-foot-long primary bedroom has been finished with an elegant ensuite bathroom with dual vanities and an oversized walk-in shower. The private yard has an eastern exposure and features a patio for entertaining, and privacy hedging that borders the fence.

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

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

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If the past few years pushed our homes to work harder than ever, 2026 is shaping up to be the year when we let them relax a little. According to a new trend report from design company Article , the direction of home design is moving away from sharp extremes and showpiece minimalism, and toward something more grounded, flexible and emotionally intuitive.

The unifying idea is connection. To each other, natural materials and spaces that support real life rather than resist it. Kylie Rozborski is an interior designer who works with Article, offering people customized layouts, furniture recommendations and colour guidance tailored to individual homes.

For next year, she sees interiors that feel warmer and more adaptable.

Designed for connection and calm

One of the strongest themes in Article’s trend report is the idea of homes being designed for connection, and Rozborski says this is no longer an abstract concept. It is showing up in very practical ways.

“We’re seeing more requests for design plans, layout options and products that make gathering feel natural and effortless,” she says. “People want multi-purpose rooms that flex for hosting, open layouts that make conversation easy and furniture arrangements that bring everyone together.”

Rather than formal living rooms or rigid dining spaces, clients are gravitating toward pieces that invite lingering.

“We’re hearing from customers that they want products that facilitate everyday connection,” she explains. “Whether that’s a generous sectional for movie night or an extendable dining table that keeps the conversation going for hours.”

Alongside connection is a clear desire for calm. After years of uncertainty and overstimulation, homes are expected to provide emotional grounding as much as esthetic pleasure.

“With everything feeling increasingly fast-moving and uncertain, people are looking to their homes to offer a sense of steadiness,” says Rozborski. “They want spaces that support how they live day to day, from practical functions to places where they can decompress.”

This explains the shift toward softer silhouettes and gentler palettes because they create that calm, serene atmosphere that promotes well-being, she adds.

The pull of natural materials

Stone, wood and organic textures dominate the report, not as rustic statements but as versatile, enduring elements that quietly anchor a room.

“Natural materials feel familiar but fresh. Wood and stone add character while still feeling easy to incorporate,” says Rozborski.

Part of their appeal is how effortlessly they work together. Their tones and textures are naturally balanced and work together in a space without overwhelming it, she says.

There is also a growing appreciation for longevity.

“Organic materials add warmth and depth, and because they pair beautifully and tend to wear well over time,” she says. “Customers often gravitate toward them for their longevity.”

If the last decade oscillated between ultralight and ultra-dark interiors, 2026 is somewhere in the middle. Rozborski notes a clear move away from stark contrasts.

“People want spaces that feel warmer and comforting. Customers are choosing medium-toned woods because warm woods have undertones that feel cosy and inviting, and are often textured or have rich grain patterns that feel nature-inspired and timeless,” she says.

Colour, too, has softened. Where neutrals once meant white, black, beige, and grey, the new foundation colours are drawn directly from nature.

“Previously, neutrals were dominated by white, beige, black, and grey, and often in high-contrast combinations,” says Rozborski. “Today we’re leaning into warmer, earthier tones that function as a foundational colour in a space to create a calming, organic feeling that connects people to nature.” These hues act as quiet backdrops, allowing rooms to feel cohesive without feeling flat.

Minimalism has not disappeared, but it has softened. Rozborski describes this evolution as warm minimalism, drawing influence from Japandi and Scandinavian design.

“Warm minimalism is really about creating calm without the space feeling rigid or cold,” she says. “You see clean lines, but also relaxed curves and a quiet palette rooted in earthy tones and natural materials.”

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Dozens of owners of short-term rentals in Victoria who lost a bid in B.C. Supreme Court to be exempted from or compensated for provincial restrictions on their businesses have also lost in a higher court.

The B.C. Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the Westcoast Association of Property Rights and individual owner Angela Mason, who were seeking relief from the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, which came into effect on May 1, 2024.

The law, designed to protect affordable long-term rental stock, generally prohibits short-term rentals outside of those within an owner’s principal residence.

Mason and the association first asked the Supreme Court for a judicial review, hoping for the court to declare they were entitled to continue to offer short-term rentals or to have the province compensate them for expected losses. Their petition was filed two weeks before the law came into affect.

But both courts agreed there was no role for the courts because the owners were asking for relief before there was any negative effect — that the consequences were hypothetical and request for relief was premature.

Mason, whose name the association used on the petition as a representative owner, said in an interview the law hurts individuals owners like her. And she said it’s no longer necessary because rentals aren’t in short supply in Victoria.

“There’s a glut of rentals right now, all the government had to do was wait for all the new rental housing to be built,” she said.

She also said the courts concluded they couldn’t offer a legal opinion on the law until someone violated it, which meant “until someone breaks the rules, there’s no (legal) precedent to be set, there’s no one to make an example of.”

“They needed somebody to break the law and suffer damages before they could rule on it,” she said. “Nobody (from the association) has chosen to break the rules.”

Mason said the association will meet next week with a lawyer to discuss any possible next steps as the courts left that door open.

Continuing the legal fight is open to anyone who wants to do it, she said. “It’s not going to be me.”

She said her purchase of a Victoria house as an investment was made possible by the income she earned renting it as an Airbnb. She now rents it from between three to six months, furnished, for about $2,000 a month, which is $800 to $1,000 a month less than her mortgage payments.

At the same time the new restrictions took affect, there was an increase in new purpose-built rentals. In Greater Victoria, the rental vacancy rate rose 5.7 per cent in 2024, according to the CMHC’s rental market report. The city’s vacancy rate was 2.6 per cent in December 2024, up from 1.6 per cent in December 2023, it said.

In December 2025, the Victoria vacancy rate rose to 3.3 per cent, the highest it’s been in more than 25 years, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In Vancouver, it was 3.7 per cent in December.

That was due to fewer international migrants and students, a weak labour market for younger people, and rental completions remaining above historical levels, it said.

The Supreme Court judge, in dismissing the petitioners’ request for declaratory relief, concluded that without a constitutional challenge, the legislature had “exclusive authority to enact the laws it sees fit.”

“In my opinion, the chambers judge made no error in concluding that the issue raised by the appellants is hypothetical or speculative and inappropriate for an advisory opinion of the court,” said Appeal Court Justice Barbara Fisher, who wrote the judgment. Chief Justice Leonard Marchand and Justice Peter Edelmann agreed.

The Supreme Court judge also said her conclusion that the petition was premature but didn’t prevent the matters it raised from being appropriately submitted in future, and the Appeal Court agreed.

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When you look out a window at your deck or patio at this time of the year, what do you see?

I’m able to enjoy the unique beauty of two corkscrew willows, Salix Tortuosa. They’re planted in containers and, on sunny days, their contorted branches look magnificent as their many twists and curls are beautifully accentuated. At night, we illuminate them with mini LED lights. With our longer and darker evenings, they look absolutely magical.  

On warm summer days, they provide great shade and make a nice screen. Throughout the year, birds love to rest on the branches, and hummingbirds sit on them often between drinking nectar of nearby pollinator pots.  

Salix trees are excellent sources of interesting cut stems for accenting containers. Hardy to zone 3, they require very little care and withstand our coldest winters. In summer, all they really need is a daily drink and a little slow-release nutrient to keep them in great shape.  

We have the green stemmed variety, but for an even more dramatic winter look, you may want to choose a bright yellow- or a scarlet-stemmed variety.  

In the garden, most salix plants need to be root pruned or cut back hard on a regular basis to keep them in check, because they can reach 32 feet (10 metres) in height in just a few years. When containerized, however, they are well behaved and are a constant source of enjoyment, but you must not let them dry out.  

At this time of the year, the willow family has much to offer. At the flower auction in Burnaby, the earliest blooming pussy willows, Salix discolor, are being showcased and sold as cut stems. Local cut flower growers are producing a series of varieties that bloom in sequence and can be harvested from January until early March. Stems of pussy willows are very much in demand as they look so good combined with early spring flowers, such as daffodils, tulips and iris. Many folks are using them as dried flowers in a vase as they can last well over a year. There are lots with unique catkins that have been collected and propagated over the past several years.

A few years ago, at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, growers were selling salix branches that had black catkins. They were incredibly popular; throughout the show I saw dozens of folks carrying bouquets of them. They are available as ornamental plants, but remember, they are fast growing and need to be contained.  

Another interesting variety is the fascinating contorted pussy willow, Salix Sekka or Japanese Fantail Willow. Its branches change from natural, round stems to flat, twisted stems with catkins spaced irregularly along the sides. It, too, should be planted in a container.  

My new favourite is a Japanese variety, called Salix Mount Aso. It has bright pink catkins. I gave one to a friend, and he mentioned that he had gone hiking on that particular mountain range. These catkins open with a touch of silver, then turn a bright pink. It’s a gorgeous salix, and its cut stems are sold in February. Many growers are now producing this variety for late winter colour.  

Willows are growing fast, and they can be grafted into many forms. I love a standard tree form, which makes a beautiful garden specimen. There is also a stunning weeping form of pussy willow called the Kilmarnock tree. It needs to be pruned hard when the catkins finish in early March, thereby allowing many new branches to form for a much fuller tree the next season.  

By far, the most popular willow is the standard grafted form of the dappled willow, Salix Hakuro-nishiki. It has attractive red winter stems, but the true beauty happens in May when the variegated white and green leaves turn a vibrant pink. This wonderful colour lasts for weeks, and it is spectacular. To achieve a stronger, bushier plant overall, prune your Hakuro-nishiki back hard in late summer each year. For willows that produce catkins, the time to prune is just after the catkins finish and before the leaves begin to develop. This will ensure there is enough time for the new wood to produce buds that will open as catkins the following year.  

Because of their aggressive roots, contorted willows and pussy willows tend to be an underused garden plant. When containerized or root pruned, they are deserving of a spot in our gardens or on our patios.  

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“Bunker” isn’t the first image that comes to mind when picturing Whistler homes. “Cottage”, sure. “Cabin,” yes. “Chalet”, of course. “House”, absolutely. But bunker?

“It’s unique because it speaks to the design theory of the home, which is basically this giant concrete bunker,” says realtor David Lewis of Angell Hasman & Associates, who’s handling the listing for the property in Whistler’s Bayshores neighbourhood. “The materials used are so over-engineered. There’s too much of everything everywhere, but in such a cool way.”

In addition to everything concrete, steel and glass everywhere, massive century-old, rough-cut timber beams reclaimed from a warehouse on Vancouver Island add warmth and history to the modern home.

Originally built in 2004 by the eighties punk band DOA as a creative space to write and record (hence the concrete), the current owners undertook a full-scale renovation in 2022. And they spared no expense doing it.

“They replaced the plumbing and electrical systems in the whole home,” says Lewis. “They completely revamped, redesigned, and reimagined all the climate control, installed two heat pump systems, and a super high-end radiator recirculating system that they brought in from England. It was previously heated by two wood fireplaces and baseboard heaters, but they didn’t think it was the most efficient way to make this property warm. So, they ran beautiful custom copper lines throughout. It’s basically this giant recirculating radiator system where even the piping feeding the radiators is designed to radiate heat off of the system itself.”

The owners didn’t stop there. Originally from Europe, they leaned heavily on the continent’s manufacturing expertise. In addition to the English radiator system, they installed a $240,000 kitchen from German manufacturer Bulthaup. “I’ve been selling homes in Whistler for 15 years, and this is only the second Bulthaup I’ve seen; the other one was in a $50 million home in [exclusive neighbourhood] Kadenwood,” says Lewis.

One of the owners, a German art dealer, “Is a very detail- oriented person. She has a great eye for this type of stuff. And her mindset was, if you’re going to do it, do it once, do it right.”

The fully renovated bathrooms are equipped with floating toilets and fixtures from German (naturally) maker Duravit, along with heated towel racks connected to the recirculating heat pump radiator system.

To artfully light up their space, they installed Bocci lights throughout the home at $10,000 a piece, and light switches from British company Buster & Punch for $140 each. Their $150,000 furniture package was custom created to fit the rooms.

A suspended catwalk leading from the main entrance over the office and into the kitchen was constructed from the same reclaimed timber as the beams.

The owners then replaced the garage door with a $30,000 custom-built design by a Finland company that makes aircraft hangar doors. “The garage opening is sufficiently wide but not super tall because there’s a huge steel beam [above],” says Lewis. “With a traditional garage door, you would lose about a foot when it rolls up. They had to leave that ceiling height, so the only option was to bring in this crazy custom door that essentially opens up like an accordion.”

The overall scale of what they created is a marvel, says Lewis. “They built an absolute masterpiece and, at this list price, they’re pretty much losing money. If you do a renovation of this calibre, you possibly will renovate yourself out of the market. But there’s an opportunity here to have a sensational home that you would have to do an incredible amount of work to try to replicate today.”

Lewis says the home is technically a duplex, which could accommodate two families or groups of friends. Or it could easily be combined into one big 4,200 square foot home. “The house is shaped like a big U, with two U shapes stacked on top of one another. It’s a very non-traditional duplex layout [but with] separate property identifiers, separate civic addresses, and separate self-contained entrances. Two families could buy it and have full total legal ownership over their part of it. Or you could have a really lovely three-bedroom upper home and rent the two-bedroom lower suite,” which the current owners do, for $6,000 a month.

What’s outside

The private lot is ensconced by a fully fenced lawn and a big sunny garden, as well as a lap pool and barrel sauna. Multiple live grass roofs, as well as a rooftop patio, overlook Alpha Lake and surrounding mountains. There are also other patios and decks around the home.

In the neighbourhood

The property is located in Whistler’s Bayshores neighbourhood, close to Creekside Village and gondola. “So even though you’re in this really nice, hidden, secluded part of Bayshores, you hop in your car and you’re about a two-minute drive to Creekside Village, where there’s a grocery store, liquor store, fine dining, shopping, coffee shops, gym and yoga,” says Lewis.

There are also several parks and hiking/biking trails nearby, as well as two elementary schools. For anything else, says Lewis, “In Whistler, everything is 10 minutes away.”

Location: 2177 Timber Ridge

Listed for: $5,988,000

Year built: 2004

Type: Five bedrooms, five bathrooms

Size: 4,200 square feet

Realtor: Listed by David Lewis, Angell Hasman & Associates Realty Ltd.

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“Would I want my family to live here?” It’s a question Suraj Jhuty asks himself on every home project. “We always try to build as if our own family is going to live there; as if our siblings or our own mother will live in it,” he says.

For Jhuty, co-principal of Vancouver’s Theorem Developments, this is a kind of gut check — and one he came back to often on a recent design-build in Burnaby’s Capitol Hill neighbourhood.

They wanted to get it right. The lot was a slice of prime hilltop on a mature street, with rippling blue views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore. The owner had approached Jhuty and his team about redeveloping around the same time that the City of Burnaby changed its zoning to allow laneway homes. The moment felt right to rebuild with extra density and sell.

This is Theorem’s sweet spot, Jhuty says: so-called ‘missing-middle’ housing; denser than a single-family home, but smaller than a typical condo development.

In a traditional neighbourhood like Capitol Hill, however, fit matters. Rather than forcing a hulking or showy structure, the team saw a chance to do something different: a main residence, basement suite and laneway home layered onto one property, yet presenting as a single-family home.

“We still wanted to give it a single-family feel, so if you were driving on that street, you wouldn’t know that there were multiple units on the lot,” says Jhuty. “We really wanted to blend in with the neighbourhood.”

Though intentionally modest, the street view is striking, with a brick-accented white stucco facade, warm wood soffits, black accents and a distinctive arch over the entry. “Our approach here was a refined West Coast modern design,” Jhuty says. “We were really adamant about crisp geometric lines.”

Inside, the kitchen takes centre position on the main floor, with living spaces extending on either side. A formal living room with a gas fireplace faces front, while a casual lounge and TV room occupies the back, opposite sliding-glass doors.

Style-wise, interior designer Janice Schulte Woodward struck a balance that’s warm without slipping into rustic vibes and polished without feeling too precious for everyday life.

An oversized, stone-topped island anchors the kitchen, with space to seat six, surrounded by slimline shaker cabinets in stained oak. A hidden pantry under the stairs houses appliances and keeps overflow storage out of sight but within reach.

A mud room at the back entry borrows brick accents from the home’s exterior, positioned off the laneway-side parking to anticipate the most common path into the home. A connected powder room and tiled floor allow for easy cleanup.

“We knew the end user would most likely have kids, just given the size of this main unit,” says Jhuty. “You know, kids, pets, all those things. It gets a little bit messy when they come in through the main entrance.”

The mud room required a small sacrifice of living space, he adds. But this way, the home’s main entrance foyer can remain an uncluttered and welcoming space for visitors, versus a drop zone for everyday life.

Upstairs, there are three full bedrooms with ensuites. Vaulted ceilings create a grand feel in the primary, with windows oriented to frame the views. The primary bath houses a glass-enclosed shower and free-standing tub — a combination that has disappeared in many new builds, Jhuty notes. Not to mention the 65-square-foot walk-in closet, large enough to function as a dressing room.

Another rarity in a single-family neighbourhood: a rooftop patio. Though compact, the space takes full advantage of the northward views, with water, gas and electrical hookups primed for the homeowner’s desired use.

Downstairs, the basement is carefully divided into a media-flex space for the homeowners and a 550-square-foot suite, which is bright, practical and conceived as a mortgage helper or in-law suite.

Out back, the laneway home sits atop a covered carport. Local code prohibited an enclosed garage, so the structure leans on openness instead. Two cars can tuck underneath, while the laneway residence above functions as a self-contained 500-square-foot home.

Surrounding all of this, landscaping softens the structure. Landscape designer Alex Lerner layered plantings designed to mature into a mix of privacy and openness. At night, the front steps become a subtle light installation, with LED strips tucked under each concrete nosing.

The home sold last summer within a week, even as finishing touches were still going in. The new owners (who prefer to remain anonymous) were coming from a condo and needed extra space for their growing family. They say they didn’t expect to find such a homey feel in a new build — or views, which they thought were only possible in a condo. The two rentable suites helped make the purchase viable.

For Jhuty, the project is proof of how much can be done on a single lot without sacrificing the feel of a traditional home. And what happens when you build with real people in mind.

Project construction: Theorem Developments

Interior design: Janice Schulte Woodward, Studio Chesa

Landscape architecture: Alex Lerner, Milieu Landscape Consulting

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During the past year, I was often asked what I thought would happen to Vancouver’s housing market. My response was simple. There is no Vancouver housing market.

There is a downtown highrise market which differs from the Fraser Valley townhouse market. Similarly, there are rental housing markets and ownership markets catering to first-time buyers, move-up buyers and last-time buyers.

That said, industry associations and experts often generalize about overall sales, housing starts and prices.

At the end of 2024, the B.C. Real Estate Association (BCREA) predicted realtors would enjoy a 13 per cent sales jump in 2025 driven by lower mortgage rates and government policies. Prices were expected to rise modestly.

However, due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announced in early February, it soon became apparent sales were falling far short of expectations and BCREA revised its outlook.

It is now estimated that 2025 will be the year during which the Lower Mainland experienced the lowest number of home sales this century.

While home sales dropped off significantly here, it was even worse in Toronto. In October, only twenty-five new condominiums were sold in the city. To put this in perspective, it is less than the number of players on the unforgettable Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.

Trump’s tariffs also impacted new housing starts. In January 2025, MLA Canada, one of B.C.’s most successful project marketing firms, predicted 125 condominium projects would launch across the Lower Mainland.

However, by year end, MLA tracked only forty-nine launches, sixty per cent below their forecast and only half the Lower Mainland’s ten-year average. However, some of these were subsequently put on hold or converted to rental.

MLA has not issued a 2026 forecast. However, it expects that the coming year could look a lot like last year. For one thing, investors are almost non-existent due to declining rents and a plethora of government policies that discourage investment.

Furthermore, Rennie Intelligence, estimates there could be 3,400 completed and unsold condominiums on the market by year end, and many more thousands still under construction but not yet sold.

In 2026, thousands of purpose-built rental units are also scheduled for completion which could further bring down rents. While this is good news for renters, it is bad news for developers.

Dozens of other condominium and rental projects have approvals in place but are not proceeding since they are no longer financially viable. This is due to a low level of consumer confidence, excessive municipal fees and high interest and construction costs.

To encourage some of these projects to get underway, Vancouver recently agreed to a myriad of measures that include reductions in development fees and engineering requirements, and deferred payments of fees.

I agree with this approach, since fees charged to condominium developers are usually passed on to new homeowners. It seems misguided to expect those who do not own homes to finance the costs of growth, rather than those who already own homes. Especially since based on 2021 Census data analyzed by SFU’s Andy Yan, nearly 50 per cent of Vancouver homeowners have no mortgage.

While condominium living offers many benefits, people moving out of these mortgage-free single-family houses are often apprehensive about moving into a development that might be run by a strata council whose president may have wanted to be prime minister of Canada but ended up overseeing eighteen townhouses.

For these reasons, I have been urging governments to make it easier to build ‘fee-simple,’ individually owned townhouses as an alternative to condominium townhouses. Although commonplace in Toronto and elsewhere around the world, they are rarely developed here.

The same applies to duplexes. Many people buy a duplex without realizing they are buying into a strata development. Even though it is made up of only two strata lots, the owners are required to abide by the rules and regulations of the Strata Property Act.

There is a ‘fee-simple’ alternative to the duplex — a ‘semi-detached’ house — one of the most common forms of housing in the U.K. and elsewhere around the world. But like fee-simple townhouses, they will not be built here until municipalities make it easier to subdivide properties into smaller lots and establish reduced permit and hook-up fees.

Now that the provincial government is aggressively mandating small-scale, multi-unit housing throughout the province, fee-simple townhouses and semi-detached homes could be attractive alternatives to strata-titled four- and six-unit multiplexes.

Although fee-simple townhouses did not become popular in 2025, another type of housing which I have often promoted in these year-end columns did finally gain popularity. I refer to factory-built modular housing which was recognized by Prime Minister Mark Carney as an effective way to build new homes.

While we will not likely see the 4,000 modular home starts promised by the Prime Minister, I agree with him and federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson that factory production offers many benefits in terms of construction quality, speed of erection and cost effectiveness.

I would like to conclude with something completely different.

Last year, several reports surfaced linking reduced fertility rates to a lack of suitably designed and affordable family housing. The result was that Canada’s fertility rate hit a new record low of 1.25 children per woman. This did not surprise me.

For years, young couples have told me they were not having children because they could not afford family friendly two- or three-bedroom apartments. While a house with a basement mortgage-helper would be perfect, that was completely out of their price range.

To address this concern, twenty-five years ago during the planning of SFU’s UniverCity community, I proposed designing apartments with a second or third bedroom with its own door to the corridor that could serve as a basement suite equivalent.

Initially, the suite could be rented out as a mortgage-helper. Over time, as the family grew, it would revert to a second or third bedroom.

Fortunately, the City of Burnaby agreed to change its zoning so that a percentage of the apartments could include these lock-off suites.

Former Tyee journalist Monte Paulsen, who sadly died in 2024, called them ‘basement suites-in-the-sky’ and they have subsequently become quite popular. An increasing number of municipalities now allow them.

In 2026, it is my hope that more developers will consider incorporating lock-off suites in their apartment buildings, especially since lenders now recognize the rental income when determining mortgage amounts. This could allow more households to enjoy future holiday seasons with their children.

On this happy note, my best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2026.

Michael Geller FCIP, RPP, MLAI, Ret. Architect AIBC is a Vancouver-based planner and real estate consultant. He also serves on SFU’s adjunct faculty. You can reach him at geller@sfu.ca and find his blog at www.gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com.

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

18622 64A Ave., Cloverdale

Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,395 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,474,000

Listed for: $1,299,000

Sold for: $1,255,000

Sold on: Sept. 29

Days on market in this listing: Eight

Listing agent: Shannon Drummond PREC and Pat Drummond at Royal LePage Elite West

Buyers agent: Dave Robles PREC, Stefanie Richardson PREC and Kathryn Iles PREC at ReMax Treeland Realty

The big sell: According to listing agent Shannon Drummond, this four-bedroom Cloverdale home had been owned by the sellers since being built in 1997. It has a cul-de-sac location and an ample driveway that could accommodate several vehicles or an RV or boat. The interior of the house features a family-friendly layout that spans two storeys alongside bright living areas. The kitchen opens to a breakfast nook and family room, while a separate living/dining room for more formal gatherings has a triple aspect and a focal point gas fireplace. In addition, there is a den on the main floor that could be used as a home office, as well as a laundry room, and access to the attached double garage. Upstairs comprises four bedrooms including the primary with its walk-in closet and five-piece ensuite bathroom. Outside, the rear garden is fully fenced and blends mature trees with modern touches such as a dedicated barbecue/fire pit area.

119 — 3031 Williams Rd., Richmond

Type: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,460 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $977,300

Listed for: $949,900

Sold for: $920,000

Sold on: October 4

Days on market in this listing: 12

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC and Shamir Charania PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Fayaz Nanji PREC and Karim Dossa PREC at ReMax Select Properties

The big sell: Edgewater Park is a 137-unit townhouse development that was constructed in the mid 1970s in Richmond’s Seafair district with a variety of recreational facilities on hand for residents including an outdoor swimming pool, playground, basketball courts, and a clubhouse. This particular property has a desirable location offering both a position that backs onto green space with direct access to the West Dyke Trail, as well as ocean views from the second floor. It was updated in 2020 with laminate floors, crown moulding, a stone-surround fireplace, a central island in the white kitchen with Shaker-style cabinets and a tiled backsplash, and a primary bedroom with a private balcony. The newly-renovated backyard has premium composite tiles on the deck, and to the front of the home is a single carport with extra parking available. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $450.22, and pets and rentals are permitted by the strata.

514 East 21st St., North Vancouver

Type: Six-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,883 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,836,000

Listed for: $2,398,000

Sold for: $2,398,000

Sold on: Sept. 4

Days on market in this listing: Zero

Listing agent: Devon Owen PREC at Royal Pacific Realty

Buyers agent: Jeff Fitzpatrick PREC at Engel & Volkers Vancouver

The big sell: Listing agent Devon Owen reports that she didn’t have a chance to bring this property to market due to the buyer finding out about it via friends and offering the full asking price. What contributed to the appeal? A location in North Vancouver’s Grand Boulevard neighbourhood with myriad amenities lining Lonsdale Avenue nearby, a fully-renovated move-in-ready home with a stylish design, sweeping views, and updates to the roof, plumbing, electrics, kitchens, bathrooms, expansive decks with secure storage, and a legal three-bedroom mortgage-helping suite on the ground floor that is currently run as a short-term rental. The two-level house has vaulted ceilings on the upper floor, a double-sided fireplace, contemporary light fixtures, and a sleek modern kitchen with integrated appliances including a wine fridge.

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

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

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Design lovers tend to choose gifts the way they create spaces: thoughtfully, and with some risk.

Postmedia asked five of Vancouver’s most design-attuned tastemakers to share the two pieces they would love to give — or receive — this Christmas. The results are personal, full of craft, and have the kind of detail that makes these items feel predestined for someone.

Here are their favourite finds:

Jody Phillips is art collection and experience manager at Naut’sa mawt Event Management

Phillips approaches design with a deep sense of place and community. Her picks aren’t the typical big-name pieces.

“I know my picks aren’t the classic design-world darlings, they’re better!”

Her first recommendation is prints by illustrator Jordanna George , an artist whose work blends identity, fantasy, queerness and Indigenous storytelling. What draws Phillips in is their perspective:

“Their work sits at the intersection of fantasy, identity, and belonging — with an unmistakably hopeful tone,” she says.

Her second pick is deeply tactile: a weaving and floral centrepiece by Aidan of Things From Gardens . Phillips says what moves her most is the designer’s attention to the overlooked.

“She’s the designer who pulls over to examine a plant, photographs a leaf, or forages a branch because of its shape.”

It’s the kind of gift that brings the quiet beauty of the West Coast indoors, says Phillips.

Mary Burgers, creative director at Burgers Architecture

Mary Burgers has a natural instinct for the good things in life — pieces made with intention, the ones you treasure not just because they’re beautiful, but because they celebrate a moment. Burgers’ first pick is the Berti Red Lucite Champagne Sabre from Atkinson’s.

Burgers loves the ritual behind this item, a single artisan in Tuscany forging each blade from start to finish, with their engraved initials.

“Don’t uncork. In one confident, continuous sweep, slide the blade up the seam and off the lip of the bottle as you go and impress guests with your noble flair,” she says.

Her second pick is Sophie Bille Brahe ‘Botticell’ Earrings at BOBOLI, because they’re timeless and unexpectedly fresh.

“Pearls are my hall pass. They’ve saved me from a few consequences by lending an air of elegance, even when I’ve been a little mischievous,” she says.

Kaito Forth, design influencer

No one reads the sculptural qualities of an object quite like Forth. His first gift pick is the Contour Table Lamp by A-N-D Studio , a piece he admires for its simplicity and presence.

“I love its beautifully restrained form,” he says, noting it brings calm to any space.

His second choice is the Andrea Copp Ceramics candle holder.

“The natural form of handmade ceramics adds so much soul to any space,” he says.

Forth says he imagines them lit with tall cream candles, on a dinner table or beside a bath — quiet luxury at its best.

Walker and Jeannie McKinley, McKinley Studios and Gallery McKinley

The McKinleys have a talent for finding pieces that feel both glamorous and grounded. Their first pick is a hand-hammered brass YSL cigarette case, which, these days, doubles as the chicest holiday clutch imaginable.

“One of our favourite things to give is something that is at once beautiful as well as functional,” says Walker.

Their second gift choice is a painting by Jonathan Syme , an artist whose work resonates with them because of its authenticity and craftsmanship.

“We love gifts that are locally produced, entirely unique, have meaningful stories attached, and where the hand of the maker can be seen through the piece,” says Jeannie.

Cristina Belmonte, SBB Collective co-founder

Belmonte has spent decades immersed in the global design community as a luxury-design communications professional. She spots micro-trends before they hit the mainstream and shares them with journalists.

Her first favourite is the European Maps Package from Åvontuura — hand-illustrated architectural guides that turn cities into curated pathways.

“Åvontuura’s guides are pure inspiration,” says Belmonte.

Her second choice is all about mood. The Stala Portable Table Lamp by Hollis + Morris has become her go-to for anyone who loves sculptural light. It’s portable, rechargeable, and instantly transforms a room.

“For lovers of colour and drama, the new Stala Portable Table Lamp by Hollis + Morris is a showstopper,” she says.

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Are you looking for that perfect gift for the gardener in your life?

After knowing so many different gardeners over a long period of time, I can honestly say that they are an amazing group of folks. Generally speaking, they are plant-wise, cost conscious, practical and know what they like. So, it can be a bit of a challenge to find a gift that they would truly appreciate.

Visiting gardens and discovering new gardening ideas, plants and plant combinations usually top the list of activities and interests that gardeners most enjoy. Gifting a gardener season passes to great gardens or a ticket for a garden tour that includes a number of gardens would be a wonderful way for them to experience a fun day. Tickets to flower and garden shows are wonderful options as well. For years, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle has been one of the best in North America. In spite of the current American travel issues, this February show will be spectacular.

Many gardening magazines have disappeared over the years, but some good options are still available. Better Homes and Gardens is one. If you check the magazine section of a store that has a good selection, you will find a few gems. In specialty magazine stores and even in grocery and drugstores, you can usually find some excellent British gardening magazines.

Having a controlled environment — where plants can be started earlier in spring and last longer into the fall — is becoming a very important concept being integrated into home gardens. Smaller, attractive greenhouses are a welcome addition for folks wanting to extend their food gardening season. A number of local businesses, like B.C. Greenhouse Builders in Langley, cater to anyone wanting a greenhouse. From planning to construction, they provide professional help to customize the greenhouse that best fits a gardener’s space and growing requirements. Even cold frames, which are ideal for protecting young plants and growing later crops, can be a welcome gift.

Art in the garden has always been a wonderful value-add feature and, today, there are so many opportunities to incorporate some artful touches into a garden. From wrought iron gates, trellises and circular designed sculptured garden scenes, suitable for hanging on walls and fences, to carved wood decor and beautiful cement or resin figurines, unique art pieces will elevate a garden, large or small, and add a personal touch of class and elegance.

Rain chains are attractive alternatives to downspouts and something not found in many gardens. Water trickling over each cup of the chain makes them a uniquely interesting water feature and adds a little touch of whimsy to any garden.

A bird bath is, perhaps, one of the nicest garden features. It should be shallow to accommodate both birds and pollinators that need water on hot summer days. Most garden stores will be low in stock at this time of the year, but getting a gift card for a bird bath that can be selected next spring is a great gift idea.

Small, self-contained water fountains also make an excellent gift — one that is especially appreciated during warm summer weather. The sound of a water fountain is very relaxing and helps to create a sense of peace. Again, there will be a much better selection in spring, so a gift card for one would be best.

Whether a garden is small or large, sometimes a professional redesign can change the whole aspect and energy of a garden. The addition of weather-protected outdoor seating, the sound of flowing water and areas designed for greater privacy are just a few of the features that can turn an outdoor living space into something quite special, even magical. We have many great local landscape architects who create brilliant, inspiring garden designs. Engaging the help of a professional would give your favourite gardener a truly special gift.

Roses still rank high on the list of most-appreciated plants. The new disease-resistant, repeat-blooming, very fragrant varieties are always inspiring and much appreciated gifts. David Austin and Kordes roses are among the best. A gift card for one of the beautiful new roses arriving this spring is something most gardeners would appreciate.

Starting plants from seed is a trend growing exponentially in all demographics. Although it is best to let folks pick out their own favourite varieties, there are some great ancillary gift ideas related to seed propagation. One of the most important is a heating mat. Because of the consistent temperatures it provides, it can make a huge difference in the per cent of successful germination. Seed starting trays, proper seed covers and good seed starting soil mixes are all very helpful for anyone germinating their own seeds.

Pruning is an ongoing process in any garden. I often notice that many gardeners purchase the least expensive types of pruners, but for anyone who does a lot of pruning, quality shears will make all the difference in the ease of cutting and the quality of the cut. There are many great brands. Swiss-made Felco shears are some of the best, and they come in a variety of styles and capacities to handle a range of branch sizes. They also have replaceable parts, such as the blades.

Winter flowering plants, like hellebores, viburnum Pink Dawn, Chinese witch hazels and the rare Prunus mumé, make wonderful lasting gifts that can be enjoyed immediately and then planted out in spring.

I hope this list of suggestions sparks some gift ideas for the gardeners in your life, but when all is said and done, a gift card for their favourite garden store is always a treasured gift. They are often appreciated more than you might image.

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One in five Canadians will be aged 65 or older by the end of this year, according to the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP). In another 20 years, the number of Canadians 85 and older will triple.

And although roughly 80 per cent will have some health or mobility issue (arthritis, diabetes or heart disease), 96 per cent prefer to remain in their own home rather than enter a retirement residence, says Anthony Quinn, president of CARP. Yet just half have made any additions or adjustments to make their homes elder-friendly.

“Too many put off the accessibility changes that would allow them to stay in their own homes, and then it’s too late when they have a fall or a change in their mobility, and their home is no longer a practical place for them to live,” he says. “[By then] the required changes would take too long and cost too much to do all at once. So, all homeowners should think about future-proofing their desire to age at home.”

Making those changes doesn’t mean your comfy, cosy home has to look clinical. Additions can be both helpful and beautiful.

Simple steps

“Everybody’s different, whether it’s a hearing issue, mobility or visual challenges,” says Christine Weber, principal, Kasian Architecture, Interior Design and Planning, which specializes in senior living and wellness design. “Just doing a few, simple things can make a big difference.”

Start by tucking away clutter, securing hanging cords, and removing loose rugs. If you absolutely love that special rug, however, Weber says why not hang it on the wall where you can still admire it without tripping over it. (With carpeting in general, low-pile is easier to traverse, especially with a mobility aid, than a thicker weave.)

Having a stylish, maybe antique, table at the doorway to drop keys or bags frees up hands for balance, and a decorative bench offers a seat while putting on and off shoes.

Hand rails and grab bars near doors, toilet, and shower will help keep you on your feet, but many seniors resist installing grab bars because they’re often unattractive. “Many companies are creating really nice grab bars, Moen and Kohler, for example,” says Weber, with finishes and styles in stainless steel, chrome, bronze and brushed nickel which meld nicely with any decor.

Stair railings, too, are rising to the occasion, with elegant options in wood, stainless steel, and glass (having two, one on each side, offers twice the security). Choose those with a comfortable grip diameter of 1.25 to 1.5 inches, and in contrasting colours from the wall to make them easily visible. Some rails have embedded LED lighting and are often motion-activated.

Even hand held showers come in a variety of attractive finishes to accent your bathroom, and are designed with longer hoses for ease of reach and mobility. Single-handle faucets also guard against scalding. Slip-resistant shower seats or benches designed in neutral but beautiful matte will match just about any tiling.

To minimize standing at a mirror or vanity, it’s handy to have a bench or stool to rest on, says Weber, and styles are limitless. “Companies are also making really nice tilt mirrors, [especially those] that go closer to the floor so you can see further down if you’re sitting.”

Reduced hand strength or arthritis can make even twisting a door knob a pain. “Lever handles are far easier to use and they can be installed in minutes and are often eligible for home accessibility tax credits,” says Quinn.

For those with hearing issues, Weber says, “There are acoustic wallpapers that are a bit thicker for deadening echo noises that make it difficult for people to hear.”

Light the way

Motion-activated nightlights might be the best $20 you’ll ever spend, says Quinn. Weber likes the kind that sit about 18 inches above the floor. “And a warm amber light helps with circadian rhythms so if you get up in the night you don’t wake up completely. There’s a product called SnapPower GuideLight which has a little LED at the bottom of the outlet plate that comes on when it’s dark.”

She also likes motion-activated bed lights that come on when you step out of bed that light your way across the room but aren’t so bright they disturb others.

“As we age, our eyes need more light to see clearly, especially in the evening,” says Quinn. “Bright, glare-free lighting in hallways, staircases, bathrooms, and entryways can drastically reduce the risk of falls. The key is to create soft, continuous light that guides you from one room to the next without casting harsh shadows.”

Weber says choosing lighting with a 60 per cent or more spread will create even floor lighting. “A 30 per cent spread creates a circle on the floor which looks like a hill when you’re trying walk through the space.” She says 2700 to 3000 on the Kelvin scale creates a nice warm glow.

Major changes

Installing a walk-in or curbless shower, adding a ramp inside or out, widening doorways and hallways to accommodate mobility aids are easier done ahead of time, but can still be retrofitted any time.

“There’s an aversion to stair lifts that I’ve heard from many seniors,” says Quinn. Still, Weber notes the cost has come down because so many people are installing them. “My parents have an Acorn stair lift that’s beige, which doesn’t stand out too much.”

She says Danish company Pressalit specializes in height-adjustable countertops, cabinets, stoves, and sinks for the kitchen, and electric toilet lifters, adjustable counters and sinks for the bathroom. “The sink mounts to the bathroom wall, has a push button at the front and a handle you can hold onto. The whole sink moves up and down based on your needs.”

Pullout pantries and pull-down shelving also offer ease of access, a job most cabinetmakers can do.

Some people with visual challenges find different hues and textures help them know when they’re crossing from one room to another, such as going from tiled kitchen to a carpeted hallway and into a wood-floored living room (eliminating or reducing thresholds can prevent tripping). Weber suggests choosing similar colours because, “Patterned flooring that has very dark spots and very light spots can look like holes and hills which can decrease confidence for someone trying to navigate that space.”

She says adding a baseboard that’s a darker hue from your carpet or floor helps delineate the floor and the wall. Glare can be an issue for older people and those with vision challenges, so she recommends avoiding shiny finishes for floors and countertops.

Even furniture for the older frame can be functional and chic. “There are a lot of new lift-assist recliners with beautiful Scandinavian design,” says Weber. “There are also custom sofa companies that can build to a senior’s living standard, so the seat is a little higher, and they can make the foam firmer.”

Smart homes

Seniors are getting more comfortable with tech in their lives, especially tech that makes their lives easier. Video doorbells that integrate into existing doorbells enable homeowners to see who’s at the door. Google Nest and Amazon Smart Thermostats adjust temperature by voice or cellphone. Virtual assistants like Amazon’s Echo or Google Home lock and unlock doors, turn lights on and off, close blinds, and view camera feeds. Fire prevention devices for the stove automatically shut off if it’s unattended for a certain period. Home monitoring systems help caregivers and family check on their elder relatives.

Fall detection devices have been around for a few years, but Patricia Debergue, director of the Aging in Place Challenge Program at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), says innovators are taking that a step further.

Debergue says that new devices in development can “detect changes in your mobility, so [rather than] wait for a fall to happen they can see the evolution in changes in behaviour that could be a predictor of a fall and warn caregivers or the people themselves, and advise them to get assessed.”

She says the NRC is supporting research and development into these technologies, which are co-designed with the older adults and caregivers, and will soon be tested in a real-world setting.

Knowing about emerging technologies and even financial supports to be able to adopt them is key, says Quinn. “CARP has been pushing for stronger and more flexible supports to help Canadians make their homes safer as they age,” he says. “The federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit is a good foundation, but it hasn’t kept up with the real cost of renovations. We’re advocating for an expansion to include a wider range of safety and accessibility upgrades, and for provincial governments to create complementary programs or grants. The idea is to make it easy and affordable to plan for aging in place before there’s a crisis, not after. Think beyond just safety; think about comfort, convenience, and connection. Preparing your home early is part of planning for a good life in later years.”

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

1157 Skana Dr., Tsawwassen

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,448 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,625,000

Listed for: $1,649,000

Sold for: $1,610,000

Sold on: Sept. 26

Days on market in this listing: 39

Listing agent: Aileen Noguer PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Shauna Ocean at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: This roomy rancher affords an abundance of one-level living with almost 2,500 square feet of interior space that spans three bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as receiving a modern facelift. Built in 1978 and renovated in 2020, the home offers an updated roof and insulation, vinyl windows, new front doors, hardwood flooring in the formal living/dining room and engineered wood floors throughout the remainder of the home, an expansive (24-foot long) family room with french doors leading out to the patio, a freshly-completed contemporary kitchen with quartz counters and a six-burner gas range among other stainless-steel appliances, an informal eating area with garden access, and a primary ensuited bedroom where a third set of french doors also open to the backyard. That garden enjoys both south and western exposure, a vegetable garden with raised beds, and a 9,608-square-foot lot.

202 — 1128 Kensal Pl., Coquitlam

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 711 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $592,000

Listed for: $598,000

Sold for: $585,000

Sold on: Sept. 14

Days on market in this listing: 42

Listing agent: Erin Aldrich-Rae at ReMax All Points Realty

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

The big sell: This one-bedroom condo was constructed in 2013 as part of Celadon House, a four-level apartment building that forms part of Polygon’s master-planned community at Windsor Gate. Set in a park-like environment and located close to the urban conveniences at Coquitlam Town Centre, the development was inspired by the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright with geometric design accents and expansive windows to bring the outside in. Also on offer to residents is the Nakoma Club with resort-style amenities including a fitness centre and swimming pool. This particular home offers eight-foot-high ceilings, a kitchen with white gloss cabinets and sleek quartz countertops, matching counters in the ensuite bathroom alongside an oversized walk-in shower, and a balcony. It comes with a parking stall, storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $297.35.

101 — 5325 West Blvd., Vancouver

Type: Zero-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 514 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $567,000

Listed for: $589,888

Sold for: $565,000

Sold on: Oct. 17

Days on market in this listing: 15

Listing agent: Matthew Lee PREC at Macdonald Platinum Marketing

Buyers agent: Adam Chahl PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: Boulevard is a four-storey complex with retail on the ground level that was built in 2017 at the corner of West 37th Avenue and West Boulevard in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood. This studio is positioned at the rear of the building with lofty 10-foot-high ceilings and a generous-sized layout with 514 square feet of living space in a linear design coupled with a private 125-square-foot patio. The open-concept interior has an insuite laundry/storage room, a four-piece bathroom, and a large closet off the entrance foyer, full-sized Fisher & Paykel stainless-steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets and a mosaic tile backsplash in the kitchen, and a living/bedroom that could host a number of furniture configurations. Of interest is that the unit comes with two parking stalls and three storage units providing plenty of additional space to store items. The home’s monthly maintenance fee is $286.94, and the strata permits pets and rentals.

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

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

Learn more about the latest mortgage rates and explore our guide to Canada’s lowest national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily. Related

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Setting your dining table for Christmas should feel joyous, not burdensome, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start.

Enter Vancouver designers Tanja Breadner and Lauren Bugliarisi of Vancouver design firm Marrimor , with their top tips on making your dining table the centre of fun for holiday festivities, without fuss.

Start with what you already love

When it comes to planning, both designers begin by grounding the table in personal pieces with meaning.

“Our jumping off point is to look at what we have, and what we did last year and build upon it. For example, Tanja has a stunning collection of vintage glassware, so when she plans a dinner party she’ll start by looking at visuals that feature vintage glassware to build a concept,” says Bugliarisi.

These heirloom details are what make a table feel like Christmas rather than just another dinner party.

“What takes decor from ‘nice’ to ‘magic’ is adding in pieces that have personal meaning. Take Grandma’s ornament collection off of the tree for the evening and sprinkle them across your table setting,” says Breadner.

Once you’ve established the personal touches you want to use, you can then fill in the gaps with a few new finds.

“This makes everything feel fresh but still familiar for your guests,” says Bugliarisi.

Avoid the biggest mistake: not planning

Holiday decorating has a way of escalating quickly. The biggest misstep the designers see is starting without a plan.

“We are big believers in spending an hour looking at visuals on Pinterest, laying out the decor you already have on hand, and really committing to a theme before you start,” says Breadner.

From there, they get organized.

“After that, we make a list (checking it twice) before we shop, so we know exactly what we are looking for,” she says.

Think about your guests and your menu

A beautiful table is one thing; a functional table is another. Who’s sitting down and what you’re serving will influence everything from materials to spacing, says the pair.

“If you’re foregoing a dedicated kids’ table this year, you want the entire tablescape to be nonbreakable. If there are elderly guests, it might not be the time to crack out the beautiful but not at all ergonomic flatware,” says Breadner.

The menu matters too.

What you plan to serve is an important part of the planning journey. You have to consider how much space you have for each place setting, for dishes on the table and decor, says Bugliarisi.

Organic glamour: this year’s look

This season, Marrimor is gravitating toward luxurious textures paired with natural elements.

“This year we are really interested in exploring the glamorous side of the organic,” says Bugliarisi.

“We love mixing a linen tablecloth with magnolia branches, while integrating velvet ornaments, bejewelled fruits and pearl-studded napkin rings,” she says.

And colour has taken a moodier turn.

“We are preferring deeper tones of red and more natural greens to the more traditional and saturated tones we typically associate with Christmas,” says Breadner.

A glimpse inside their own homes

Despite very different gatherings ahead — Bugliarisi is hosting a big group, and Breadner is planning an intimate dinner party — their strategies mirror each other.

“We are both going to use a mix of vintage pieces along with some new items,” says Bugliarisi.

Breadner in the form of glassware, and Bugliarisi, as plates. They both have a little treat for their guests on their plates. Breadner is giving everyone a hot chocolate spoon, and Bugliarisi, a game in the form of Christmas crackers.

Their go-to picks this season

Breadner and Bugliarisi love mixing timeless pieces with a few standout details.

“We love these Aperitif Glasses from Crate and Barrel for those who don’t have a vintage glassware collection like Tanja,” says Bugliarisi.

Fresh florals are still their first love, but they’ve found long-lasting alternatives.

“For both sustainability and longevity, we love these blooming magnolia branches and red amaranthus stems for decor options that last for years to come,” says Breadner.

Ornaments shouldn’t be confined to the tree.

“ The Cross has Vancouver’s best selection of ornaments in our opinion, including this lemon that we are loving this year,” says Bugliarisi.

For flatware, they keep it classic.

“ Pottery Barn is one of our favourite stores. We are using the Emma set this year,” says Breadner.

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Emily and Jesse Konzelman will never forget the day they received the keys to their new Habitat for Humanity -built home in Castlegar. It was a day filled with happiness, laughter and a few tears of joy.

“I never thought home ownership was ever going to happen for us,” says Emily Konzelman, a mother of two young children. “It was a miracle and a blessing. We were living in subsidized housing, in a home that was way too small for our family.”

The family was encouraged to apply after a friend had been accepted into Habitat’s program.

“When I was pregnant with our second child, we applied,” says Emily. “We were thrilled when we were accepted in 2023.”

In October 2023, Jesse and Emily Konzelman, along with their then three-year-old daughter Renley, joined Habitat for Humanity Southeast BC board chair Neil Coburn for a “symbolic key ceremony.”

“It was an emotional day … We would not be where we are if it weren’t for Habitat,” says Emily Konzelman. “We love our three-bedroom townhome, which is in a nice neighbourhood, which is only a five-minute walk to the grocery store, close to the park and not far from an elementary school.”

There are still misconceptions that Habitat for Humanity gives away free homes.

That is not the case, says Carmen Rempel, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Victoria. First off, families must qualify for the home ownership program by demonstrating a real need for adequate and affordable housing, the ability to pay a mortgage and the willingness to volunteer for 500 hours in lieu of a down payment, which can include time to the build, the ReStore or other Habitat projects.

“We volunteered 300 hours, and my mom and grandfather volunteered 200 hours for us at the ReStore,” says Emily Konzelman.

Rempel explains that anyone can assist a family to complete their volunteer hours.

“We had a single mom who organized a big blitz,” says Rempel. “She co-ordinated 25 family, friends and co-workers, all of whom showed up for her in various ways to complete her 500 hours.”

Meanwhile, Rempel cannot underscore the positive impact on families’ overall health when they become homeowners.

“The impact is extraordinary and multi-faceted,” says Rempel, adding right now the non-profit is building a 13-unit multiplex project in Saanich, B.C. “There is really good research and data which specifically focuses on families, and how home ownership can boost physical and mental health. When people can stabilize their lives by owning a home, everyone, including the community, thrives.”

So, how does home ownership happen through Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for Humanity is a global non-profit housing organization working in approximately 70 countries. In Canada, and throughout the world, Habitat’s model differs. In Canada, the process begins with prospective families completing an application that includes reference checks and a confirmation of employment.

Habitat Victoria builds and sells homes to families at a low price point, made possible through generous donations.

“The family gets a traditional mortgage from Vancity for as much as they can qualify for,” says Rempel. “Then, Habitat lends the rest of the mortgage at zero per cent.”

Rempel went on to say: “Because we are also the lenders, we can ensure their mortgage payment never exceeds 30 per cent of their gross household income. We conduct an annual review with the families, and if need be, we adjust their mortgage payments based on their annual income to ensure their home remains affordable and they have security for perpetuity.”

If they choose to move before the mortgages are up, the family can sell, but they must notify Habitat and get the home appraised. Habitat has first option to purchase the home back from the family at the appraised value. But if they stay and complete the mortgage agreement with Habitat, the home is fully theirs.

According to the 2024 Statistics Canada survey , 45 per cent of Canadians reported being very concerned about safe, affordable housing because of the rising costs of housing or rent. In 2024, Habitat for Humanity Canada , assisted 222 families to become homeowners.

The Annual Habitat for Humanity Victoria Gingerbread Showcase brings together local community members in support of affordable home ownership. Held at the Hotel Grand Pacific, it is Habitat Victoria’s premier annual fundraiser.  Visitors can enjoy the wonderfully imaginative gingerbread houses daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Jan. 4, 2026.

“This is one of those events that fill you with joy,” says Rempel. “Every gingerbread creation tells a story, and when you visit, vote, and donate, you are helping write a much bigger one about building homes and hope right here in our community.”

For more information about Habitat for Humanity, or to donate, apply to the program or for volunteer opportunities, visit habitat.org .

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Long before he became a realtor, Ryan Sidhu used to walk by a particular house in his South Surrey neighbourhood, stop and admire it. He never imagined he would one day be representing the sumptuous home for sale.

“It’s stunning,” he says. “The sellers are meticulous; they maintain the landscaping and the interior to the nines. I haven’t seen something of that quality and that beautifully layered in a long time The entire exterior is stone,” from the facade to the patios to the paving to the hot tub and rock waterfall cascading into a stone-cloaked pool.

He says the owners situated the pool off the primary bedroom so they could nip out through the double French doors for a quick dip.

Sidhu is particularly struck by the gated mansion’s backyard. “I’ve been going to L.A. a lot recently and one of my favourite places is the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel. This house has that feel, the way the bricks are laid and the way that the awning comes out to cover the patio. It feels like you’re sitting poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel.”

He says the one-acre property abuts a green belt with a creek that runs below. A sitting area with fire pit, picnic table and gazebo sheltering a barbecue are primed for outdoor entertaining. Mature trees, hedges and flowering shrubbery ensure peace and privacy.

On the inside

The rock theme continues inside the 8,169-sq.-ft. estate, including to the unique stone fireplace, which stretches to the ceiling. “The owners had a vacation home in the Okanagan and loved the stones along the lake shore,” says Sidhu. “They got permission to hire a company to take out stones by hand from the bottom of the lake. So it’s natural B.C. lake stone — not something you see every day.”

To add warmth — while maintaining the stone theme in touches of travertine — the owners outfitted the interior with wood, lots of wood, including fir, mahogany and cedar spanning floors, walls, ceilings and cabinetry. “They said the woodwork took a few years to complete,” says Sidhu. “The barrel-vaulted ceiling in the great room was all done on site. It’s really beautifully finished.”

A secret safety/panic room hides behind the large, wood-panelled walls of the den/office.

The gourmet kitchen features granite countertops, a refrigerator by Sub-Zero, and a six-burner cooktop/stove from professional-grade manufacturer Dacor. A separate prep kitchen has outdoor access for easy entertaining.

The primary bathroom has stained-glass windows, Kohler fixtures, a free-standing soaker tub, a jet tub by Ultra, and steam room by ThermaSol. The curved glass shower has a separate steam shower that you can walk out of and into a regular shower. There’s another steam room in the basement, as well as a sauna by Homecraft.

The owners hired a local artist to paint a mural of a ceramic pot with ivy winding up the wall along the main floor hallway. “There was a picture that really resonated with our client, so she asked the artist to replicate it on the wall,” says Sidhu. There’s a similar mural on the wall of the temperature- and humidity-controlled, brick-accented wine cellar with stone-mosaic floor.

A bar, media room, gym, and guest bedroom complete the lower level.

A detached guest suite/coach home with a bedroom, open-concept kitchenette, seating area and a bathroom sits atop the oversized triple garage. “They have a really large family, as well as a lot of grandkids to come, and they wanted their guests to have a private space,” says Sidhu.

Overall, he says of the house that stopped him in his tracks years ago, “With the details and landscaping and the amount of care that’s gone into maintaining the property, it’s probably one of the best conditioned homes I have seen at its age.”

In the neighbourhood

Numerous schools and a wide variety of recreational activities, many within walking distance, make up South Surrey’s prestigious Elgin Chantrell community. Crescent Beach is a six-minute drive away, and the Nicomekl River is 11 minutes. The neighbourhood’s namesake, Chantrell Creek, runs all the way to the river and its riverfront park. There are many more parks, as well as the Nico-Wynd Golf Course, nearby. There are also a variety of restaurants and shops along King George Hwy.

History buffs will be interested to know of several historic markers nearby, including for the Semiahmoo Trail, used as early as 1858 by American miners trying to skirt official licensing costs and head tax during the Gold Rush, according to the City of Surrey. In 1872, the B.C. government widened the trail to accommodate wagons, making it the main road connecting Canada and the U.S. The trail today is mostly unpaved and preserved as a natural green space.

Location : 3122 136th Street, South Surrey

Listed for: $6,488,888

Year built: 2001

Type: Five bedrooms, seven bathrooms

Size: 8,169 sq. ft.

Realtor: Listed by Ryan Sidhu, Macdonald Realty, Surrey

For more detailed mortgage information, explore our guide to Canada’s lowest national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily. Related

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Creating a beautiful space usually requires a statement piece, a focal point that sets the tone for the room’s interior design and reflects the personality and style of those who call it home.

A statement piece immediately draws attention and stands out from the other decor in the room, says Tanya Ali, founder and creative director at Tali + Roche Designs .

“It can take many forms, such as a piece of furniture, artwork, a decorative item, or even the arrangement of furniture,” she says, adding the standout piece should introduce an unexpected or thoughtful element into the space.

Art is one of the most popular choices to add a statement piece into a room. “One of my favourite artists is Lisa Ochowycz ,” says Ali, adding that in her own home she likes to keep everything monochromatic, play with textures and then introduce colour through artwork or decorative pillows.

While statement pieces are sometimes custom and expensive, Ali believes there are cost-effective ways to add a focal point.

Look for work by local or emerging artists through events such as Vancouver’s Eastside Culture Crawl or consider renting art, she suggests.

“Finding statement pieces through thrift stores, second-hand shops or DIY projects can also be an economical way to [find] them. Ultimately it should reflect the homeowner’s personality and style, rather than following trends,” she says.

Interior designer Stephanie Hilton, owner of Stephanie Hilton Design , believes statement pieces should complement the overall design rather than conflict with it, using elements like scale, colour and materials to create an impactful but cohesive look.

“If you have a transitional home adding something that’s not aligned with the rest of the design — something farmhouse or very traditional — wouldn’t make sense. Instead of walking into a space saying, ‘that’s really cool or unique,’ you’re puzzled, it makes everything look disconnected. It has to make sense in the space, complement it, but stand out at the same time,” she says.

Scale is one of the most important aspects to consider when deciding on a statement piece and choosing the right scale is especially important in smaller spaces like condos, adds Hilton, who cautions that while people are often aware of buying something too large for space, buying something too small will look like an afterthought and give the room an unfinished look.

When considering scale, don’t only think about the size of the room, also think about the pieces that are in it, she says.

“If you have a living room with condo size furniture you don’t want something that’s overbearing in the room.”

Colour is one of the ways to make a statement in a room. Hilton is currently completing a project for colour-loving residents who have opted for a custom yellow velvet couch and burnt orange ottomans.

“It’s fun because not many people like to get into that kind of colour,” says Hilton.

In a more neutral space a furniture item like a mid-century sideboard or a light fixture will make a statement, she adds.

“There are also lots of vintage and statement lighting pieces [available]. Mid-century is always going to be a classic; it is one of those exceptions that you can put into any design. My house is very neutral and I have a beautiful walnut mid-century record player that doesn’t go with anything. It’s a statement piece, right? Number one, it’s a record player and secondly, it’s different than all my other wood tones, but it stands out and it’s very unique,” says Hilton.

“Feature wall plaster and natural finishes are huge right now, and sometimes those alone serve as artwork. I recently completed a project where we did a Venetian plaster fireplace with custom lighting that was plastered to match and lime wash in the bedroom. There’s nothing on the walls because [the finish on the walls] is the art,” she says.

Nicole Begrand-Fast, principal at Begrand Fast Design Inc. in Kelowna, works on many interior designs where the most eye-catching aspect is a lake view.

When working with a view, such as a lake, the view itself can be the primary statement and the interior design should complement and not compete with it, says Begrand-Fast who recently designed the interiors in Stober Group’s Movala mixed-use development in Kelowna’s South Pandosy neighbourhood where many of the condos and penthouses have lake views.

“A great view is definitely a statement that no one gets tired of. Going into a space, whether it’s huge or smaller, assessing the views and the natural light, the layout of furnishings, what you’re seeing when you’re standing in the kitchen, what you’re seeing when you’re seated in the living room, all need to be considered. We also compete with focal points such as fireplaces and televisions that [to be functional] also need to be seen. But to me, having those beautiful views, that is the art,” she says.

Some ways to make the most of the view plus see the TV or enjoy a focal point like a fireplace, is to include swivel chairs in the space.

“You can enjoy the view during the daytime, but in the evening when it’s dark then you can turn and view a television or a fireplace so having that flexibility lets you interact with the view and the indoors, depending on the time of day,” says Begrand-Fast.

She adds that elements from the view, be it a lake, mountain or forest view, are great inspiration to pull into a statement piece.

“So, any of the tones and colours in the views that you’re seeing out there could become great statement pieces and have flow and consistency because that’s what you’re looking at,” she explains, adding she always suggests toning down the colours.

“You wouldn’t literally take the same blue from a lake — really look at the tones and the colours of the lake, they can be quite moody with greyish or greenish blues.”

Another way to add a statement piece is through texture. At Movala, Begrand-Fast covered an interior wall with ribbed natural oak to make a statement in the bedroom.

Ali also believes texture in a fibre or a finish can be the star of room.

“It could be a very textural aspect like velvet or introducing different fabrics into the mix to create a statement,” she says suggesting rich and earthy tones will draw attention.

“It could also be an heirloom or a piece of art you have purchased or inherited — it could be a coffee table with a shagreen finish. At its core that’s what a statement piece is; something a bit unexpected,” says Ali.

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

21247 94B Ave., Langley

Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,068 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,260,000

Listed for: $1,250,000

Sold for: $1,223,500

Sold on: Sept. 30

Days on market in this listing: Five

Listing agent: Adam Chahl PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Michelle Chung PREC at Sutton Group — 1st West Realty

The big sell: Langley’s Walnut Grove is the location for this four-bedroom detached home that sits on a 5,380-square-foot lot near Dorothy Peacock Elementary, West Langley Elementary and Walnut Grove Secondary schools. Other amenities are also nearby including Walnut Grove Community Centre, shopping, parks, transit, and access to highways. The updated home was built in the mid 1980s with three family bedrooms on the upper level adjacent to the principal reception rooms, and a useful renovated one-bedroom suite on the ground floor that could be used as a mortgage helper or in-law suite. On the exterior, a low-maintenance durable 50-year metal roof has been installed, a deck provides a view across the fully-fenced rear garden, and a generous driveway offers parking for up to five vehicles. The property was snapped up with an accepted offer coming after just five days.

502 — 1200 West Georgia St., Vancouver

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 689 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $721,000

Listed for: $679,800

Sold for: $620,000

Sold on: Sept. 10

Days on market in this listing: 33

Listing agent: Ali Eshghi at Virani Real Estate Advisors

Buyers agent: Pete Shpak PREC and Lee Bryant PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: The award-winning Residences on Georgia development features two condominium towers coupled with a base of townhouses that were built by Westbank in 1996 in collaboration with James K.M. Cheng Architects. Apart from the convenience of a position in the heart of downtown, there is an on-site fitness centre, a courtyard garden, concierge services, and underground parking (this unit comes with one parking stall). The 5th-floor suite has views across the garden, and features one bedroom plus a large windowed den that listing agent Ali Eshghi states could be used as a second bedroom. At almost 700 square feet, the home can offer sizable rooms including an 18-foot-long living room, as well as a dining area and insuite laundry. Also on hand is a dedicated storage locker, a strata that accepts pets and rentals (with restrictions), and a monthly maintenance fee of $517.80.

4459 West 5th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Four-bedroom, four-bathroom detached

Size: 2,297 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $3,554,000

Listed for: $3,188,000

Sold for: $3,208,000

Sold on: Aug. 17

Days on market in this listing: 17

Listing agent: Mario Felicella PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

Buyers agent: Bob Bracken at ReMax Real Estate Services

The big sell: Buyers’ agent Bob Bracken reports that this custom-built Point Grey family home sold back in August with multiple offers that pushed the final sale figure over the listing price. What appealed to prospective purchasers was a prime position in the centre of Point Grey coupled with tantalizing vistas that offer both city and water viewpoints. The house was built in 2007 with an open-plan main floor that combines a living/dining area with a gourmet kitchen and a spacious family room with access to the landscaped garden. The upper level has three bedrooms including the primary bedroom that boasts a large ensuite bathroom and private deck. A lower level has a fourth bedroom and additional space that could be expanded. The icing on the cake, however, is a top-floor recreation room that walks out to a rooftop deck complete with mouth-watering views.

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

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

Learn more about the latest mortgage rates and explore our guide to Canada’s lowest national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily. Related

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Not too long ago, Squamish was mostly known as a pit stop on the way to Whistler. Today, it’s a place where designers, architects, artists, builders and makers have put down roots and are creating work that feels unmistakably shaped by the Sea to Sky landscape.

Some of these people moved to Squamish for affordability or lifestyle, and have got much more from the move than they bargained on. Squamish is fast becoming one of the most interesting design communities in British Columbia.

For interior designer Josianne Bérubé of Stark Architecture & Interior Design , the change was gradual but distinct.

“We began to feel the design community taking shape in Squamish a few years ago,” she says. More studios and creatives started choosing Squamish as their home base rather than commuting to Vancouver, and what was once a scattered group is now a connected ecosystem rooted in shared values and a design language that reflects the Sea to Sky region, she says.

Bérubé traces these changes back to the upgraded highway and international attention from the 2010 Winter Olympics, which brought new people to town. Then came the pandemic, which accelerated everything.

“The pool of talent that has gathered here since then has been incredible,” she says.

The mountains, the light, the trails, and the pace all seem to shape how people think and work in Squamish, says Bérubé.

“In Squamish, nature isn’t a backdrop, it’s a collaborator,” says Bérubé. Designers work in constant dialogue with the environment, letting the landscape guide materials, form and intention. She describes the creative energy as raw, natural, deeply connected and rooted in respect for place rather than trends.

This sense of connection also fuels collaboration.

“Designers here support one another because we’re collectively trying to honour the region through our work,” she says. The shared purpose gives the community a cohesive feel, even while it is still forming.

Megan Mauracher is national program manager for IDS (the Interior Design Show ), and moved to Squamish in 2018, noticing something cool was going on.

“There was this common thread of people who’d figured out how to do work they loved while combining it into living the life they wanted,” she says.

Over the past eight years, she has watched that thread turn into a vibrant network of studios, fabricators, entrepreneurs and collaborators.

The community has really transformed after the 2020 shift to remote work, she says. More designers arrived with the belief that creativity needs room to breathe.

“You can hike the Chief before work, walk by the river at lunch, or bike after hours, all within a 10-minute radius,” she says. And while the outdoor lifestyle gets the headlines, the real anchor is community size, says Mauracher.

“In Squamish, you know your neighbours,” she says. There is a sense of building something together.

Furniture designer and woodworker Jon Hewitt of architectural millwork company Leon Lebeniste reminds us that the design story in Squamish did not start yesterday. He first arrived in 2008 and saw a community already taking shape, mostly connected to outdoor soft goods R&D.

“Arc’teryx, FYI Design, Sea to Summit, Silverfoot… the OG companies centred around the outdoor adventure industries,” he says.

He points out that long before the latest wave arrived, Squamish was home to architects, industrial designers, and makers linked to companies like Fraserwood Industries, which helped shape development across the region.

Infrastructure paved the way for the next phase.

“The Sea to Sky Highway development for the Olympics was a major unlock,” he says. Once commuting became realistic, Squamish hit a sweet spot for people who wanted serious careers and outdoor time in the same 24 hours.

He believes the scene is no longer in its infancy. Instead, it is gathering momentum, talent and higher expectations.

“The quality bar keeps rising as more talent arrives,” he says.

Painter and commercial artist Kathy Ager offers a different view, because she is only just beginning her life in Squamish. She has lived in Amsterdam, Lisbon and Barcelona, so the size of Squamish feels new.

Rather than feeling anonymous in a major art city, she has found clarity in Squamish.

“I feel like I can hear myself think, and like the only person making specifically what I’m making,” she says.

She remembers Squamish as a quick rest stop in the 90s. When she returned in 2022 to visit a friend working on a mural downtown, she was struck by how much had changed.

“I was amazed by how much development had happened in town and how many people live and visit here now,” she says. The mix of new growth and older murals feels important to her.

“I hope the character of downtown is preserved, especially older murals like Ken Skoda’s on 2nd Avenue,” says Ager.

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