Saskatoon HOME Winter 2008

$4.95 • DESIGN • ARCHITECTURE • DÉCOR • WINTER 2008

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SASKATOON HOME WINTER 20082

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SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2008 3

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STYLE&FUNCTIONC O N T E N T S

7 F r o n t l i n e s■ Home Sales Drop in October■ Building Permits Hit Record Levels■ New Low-Income Seniors HousingProject■ Housing Starts to Moderate in 2009■ CMHC Supports Canadian CreditMarkets■ Housing Data Reveals Changes■ Affordable Housing in Pleasant Hill■ U of S Chooses Meridian forStudent Housing

15 S h o w c a s eThe European TouchKurylyk Home Inspired by GleamingItalian Tile

19 P r o f i l eInterior Designer Happy GroveCreator of Harmonious and HealthyLiving Spaces

21 T i p s h e e tInterior Designer or Decorator?Make Your Choice According toExperience

47 S p o t l i g h tPost and Beam PalaceOctagon Log Home with Wrap-AroundCountry Views

49 R e v i e wWillingdon PlaceHistoric Cul-De-Sac Has Character andCharm

THE INSIDE STORY OFWELCOMING SPACES

29 Design DivaGLOBAL SOPHISTICATION INSPIRES

INTERIOR DESIGNER’S PROJECTS

37 The Light WithinHOW TO BRIGHTEN YOUR INTERIOR

IN THE SEASONAL GLOOM

40 The Elements ofSaskatoon Style

THE SASKATOON HOME

ROUNDTABLE

Cover: Living room at the home of Michelle and Ron Kuryly. See story on page 37.

Unless noted otherwise, all stories and photographs in Saskatoon Home are by Darrell Noakes

51 S t a n d a r d sHarmony and BalanceWhat makes feelgood feel good?

53 S u p p l i e r sThe Evolved BathroomNow Eco-friendly “Rest” Rooms

55 T h e R o o mSuper Garage IdeasA space you can be proud of.

57 T h e C i t yDevelopers Invited to RehabilitateMcNab Park Duplexes

59 D i r e c t o r y61 B a c k w o r d s

When the Stuff of Life Becomes theArt of Wow

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Issue 4, Winter 2008ISSN [email protected]

Publisher, Editor, DesignerRobert MacDonaldSenior Editor, WriterDona SturmanisContributing Writer, PhotographerDarrell NoakesContributorsStephanie Symons, Karin MelbergSchwier, Sandra Kochan.

Saskatoon Homeis published by:Mondovi Publishing Inc.302 4th Avenue NorthSaskatoon SK S7K 2L7Telephone 306.665.9160Email [email protected] www.mondovi.caPresident Susan ZwarychOperations Krystal FrerotteSales Dina Langlois

Wheat King Publishing Ltd.200-160 Dougall Road SouthKelowna BC V1X 3J4President Jeff Pexa

Produced in association with theMedia Futures Institute

No part of this publication may becopied or reprinted without the writtenconsent of the publisher.

Publications Mail Agreement# 41216508

With winter coming, the focusof our homes moves indoors,where during the chillySaskatoon months, we willstay warm in body and spirit.Our interiors are reflections ofourselves – our lifestyles, pref-erences, heritage and environ-ment. We design and decorateour indoors for comfort, practi-

cality and pleasing aesthetics.And it is with the help of theprofessional interior design anddecorating community that wecan maximize our abodes.There are also suppliers andcontractors on whom we rely tomake our inner sanctum thevery best we can be. We are for-tunate in Saskatoon to have a

Tales fromThe Insidewealth of such professionals tohelp us. Many of them advertisein the pages of Saskatoon Homeand we hope you will take ad-vantage of their fine productsand services.

In this issue we take a look atwhat influences constitute thedistinctive inner workings oftrue Saskatoon home style. Weprofile some top city interiordesigners and offer you practi-cal tips on how to enhance yourinner abode. We also introducea new feature, the SaskatoonHome Roundtable.

So what constitutes the heartof the true Saskatoon home?Rural roots, urban minimalism,a nod to sustainability. Warmth,heritage, practicality, connectionwith those close in our lives.Nature. Global culture and in-fluences, new trends, but allblended with a distinctive, per-sonal, local appeal.

We eagerly welcome yourcomments and suggestions.Dona SturmanisSenior Editor

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F r o n t l i n e sHome Sales Drop

in October

The Saskatoon Region Associa-tion of Realtors reported thatthe Saskatoon housing marketsaw sales drop 23 per cent inOctober, compared with theprevious year. There were 215units sold in October, 65 belowthe 280 home sales in October,2007, the association reportedin its monthly news release.

Year to date, 3,182 homeshave been purchased, down 19per cent from 2007, when 3,918homes had been sold.Saskatoon real estate agents sold$920,867,000 worth of residen-tial real estate up to the end ofOctober, a two per cent increasefrom 2007. Total MLS sales ex-ceeded 1.1 billion dollars, downone per cent from last year at thesame time.

The average residential sell-ing price for October remainedstrong at $285,310, a 12 percent rise from $255,739 duringthe same period last year. Yearto date, the average price standsat $289,399, up 26 per cent overthe year. The average price veri-fies significant activity in the midto upper price range homes.The average residential price isderived by taking the month’sdollar volume of homes sold and

dividing that number by the unitsales number.

October 2008 inventory lev-els continued to provide buyerswith excellent choice, the asso-ciation said. Saskatoon real es-tate agents listed 695 homes inOctober, up 30 per cent fromOctober 2007 when 535 homeswere placed on the market forsale. Year to date, agents havelisted 7,467 homes. At monthend, home buyers had 1667homes to select from. Thisnumber represents more thandouble the properties availableto purchase at this time last year,the association reported.

“The significant increase inlisting inventory is due to sev-eral factors,” the associationsaid. “The market frenzy of2007 saw much speculationwith many investors purchasingnumerous properties to reno-vate and flip. Many individualsbuilt several new homes to sell.Local investors and buildersalso stepped up to the plate andpurchased homes and apart-ment blocks for conversion tocondominiums.

“Some local buyers, who tra-ditionally would have sold theircurrent home and then boughta new one, bought a new one butdid not sell their existing homespeculating that the marketwould go up. These and other

reasons are why so many prop-erties have been placed on themarket at this time. It will take afew months for this inventory toreturn to a more normal level. Inthe interim some property own-ers are renting their homes withthe intention of placing theirhomes back on the market inspring.

“Home sale numbers andprices will soften for a short pe-riod of time during this correc-tion period and will likely beginto increase again in 2009 at amuch slower rate than experi-

enced in the last two years.“As we go through this cor-

rection period, home ownerswill have to recalculate their ex-pectations when pricing theirhomes and expect a longer pe-riod of time for their home tosell.

“Consumers should be re-minded that markets are cycli-cal. When we look back at mar-kets that we have been through,we can look at the late 1980swhen we had roughly the samenumber of properties on themarket. We had fewer buyers as

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our population at that time wasonly around 185,000 people.We also had roughly the samenumber of Agents in the indus-try.

“An additional factor to con-sider during the 80s was we haddouble digit interest rates versussingle digit interest rates that weenjoy today. For example in the80s a $50,000 mortgage at 19per cent had a $934 Principal,Interest and Taxes (PIT) pay-ment. Higher interest ratesmade servicing the debt some-what difficult. Markets are cycli-cal and we are again goingthrough a correction period andfollowing that the market willresume, maybe not at the exactsame level but it will reboundagain.

“Saskatoon and all of Sas-katchewan will be impacted bythe recent global financial situ-ation but when compared toother areas in Canada or NorthAmerica going through this pe-riod of time in our history, Sas-katchewan is likely to be one ofthe best places to live.”■ SASKATOON REGION ASSOCIA-

TION OF REALTORS

Building PermitsHit Record Levels

Saskatchewan’s building per-mits totalled $347.5 million inSeptember 2008, the highestamount ever on record, beatingthe previous record set in July2008 ($298.6 million).

In September 2008, building

permits in the province were up142.2 per cent over last Septem-ber, the highest percentage in-crease in Canada (seasonallyunadjusted). Nationally, build-ing permits increased by only9.1 per cent.

“When you are dealing withnumbers of this magnitude, it ishard to fathom that we are deal-ing with such hardships in thenational economy,” Enterpriseand Innovation Minister LyleStewart said. “Although we can-not be too over confident, it isvery difficult to hide the fact weare dealing with the best build-ing permit numbers ever in thehistory of our province – that isamazing.”

The value of residential per-mits was up by 14.7 per cent inthe province between Septem-ber 2007 and September 2008.Non-residential constructionincreased by 329.3 per cent to$249.7 million during that sameperiod.

On a seasonally adjusted ba-sis, building permit increasesalso recorded the highest per-centage increases in the nation,up 115.2 per cent between Au-gust 2008 and September 2008.On the national front, permitswere up 13.4 per cent.

“We are very encouraged bythese numbers, and are confi-dent the new tax changes wehave implemented along withthe strong fiscal managementwill help to encourage furtherinvestment, and continue thebuilding boom in the province,”Stewart said.■ PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN

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New Low-IncomeSeniors Housing

Project

Low-income seniors in Saska-toon have access to new afford-able rental housing with theopening of Columbian Manor,thanks to federal, provincial andmunicipal funding totalling $3.5million.

“The Government of Canadais committed to making afford-able housing available in Sas-katchewan and across Canada forthose who need it most,” saidLynne Yelich, Parliamentary Sec-retary to the Minister of HumanResources and Social Develop-ment and Member of Parliamentfor Blackstrap. “Projects like the

Columbian Manor will give sen-iors in Saskatoon the opportu-nity to stay in their community,close to family and friends, whilereceiving the care and supportthey need.”

“Today’s announcementmeans that more lower-incomeseniors in Saskatoon will be ableto remain independent for aslong as possible,” Social ServicesMinister Donna Harpauer said.“Our government is committedto working with our partners tomeet the growing needs of ourcitizens. Safe, secure and stablehousing is very important and allcitizens should have homes thatpromote health, independence,security and dignity.”

“We turned the sod for thiscomplex two years ago, and I’m

delighted that today, we open itsdoors to the seniors in our com-munity,” Mayor Atchison said.“It is just another example of howthese partnerships can work to-gether successfully to ensure thatall our citizens have safe, afford-able housing and can enjoy a bet-ter quality of life. This is whatmakes a community strong.”

The 51 new units were con-structed under the federal, pro-vincial and municipal Cente-nary Affordable Housing Pro-gram (CAHP). The total budgetfor the project was $6,082,136.Under CAHP, funding assist-ance was provided by CanadaMortgage and Housing Corpo-ration ($1,734,000); Saskatch-ewan Housing Corporation($1,387,200) and the City of

Saskatoon ($346,800). Thefunding balance was providedby K.C. Charities in the form ofmortgage financing ($2,104,136) and land contribution($510,000). The project was co-ordinated by K.C. CharitiesInc., a non-profit charitable cor-poration established inSaskatoon in 1983.

CAHP is funded under theCanada-Saskatchewan Afford-able Housing Agreement. It pro-vides approximately $33 millionin federal funding for affordablehousing, which is matched bySaskatchewan, municipalitiesand other partners. With thesematching contributions, morethan $66 million will be commit-ted for affordable housing.■ PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN

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Housing Starts toModerate in 2009

New home construction willmoderate from historicallyhigh levels, to reach just under178,000 units in 2009, a levelthat is consistent with demo-graphic fundamentals, accord-ing to Canada Mortgage andHousing Corporation’s fourthquarter Housing Market Out-look, Canada Edition report.

“High employment levels, ris-ing incomes and low mortgagerates have continued to providea solid foundation for healthyhousing markets this year,” saidBob Dugan, Chief Economistfor CMHC. “Housing starts willmoderate to 212,200 units in2008 and 177,975 units in2009.”

Existing home sales, as meas-ured by the Multiple ListingService (MLS), which reacheda record level of 523,701 salesin 2007, will moderate in 2008to 452,225 units. In 2009, MLSsales will move to 433,375 units.Despite a moderation in MLSsales, demand for existinghomes will remain strong by his-torical standards. With housingmarkets having become bal-anced across Canada, the rate ofgrowth in the average MLS pricewill moderate. Average priceswill reach $306,500 in 2008and $306,700 in 2009.

As Canada’s national housingagency, Canada Mortgage andHousing Corporation draws onmore than 60 years of experi-

ence to help Canadians access avariety of quality, environmen-tally sustainable, and affordablehomes – homes that will con-tinue to create vibrant andhealthy communities and citiesacross the country.■ CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUS-

ING CORPORATION

CMHC SupportsCanadian Credit

Markets

Canada Mortgage and Hous-ing Corporation (CMHC) willpurchase up to $25 billion ininsured mortgage pools as partof the Government of Cana-da’s plan to maintain the avail-ability of longer-term credit inCanada.

The first purchase of $5 bil-lion was made October 16,2008 through a competitiveauction process. The mortgagesinvolved are high-quality assetsthat are already guaranteedthrough government-backedmortgage insurance. The Gov-ernment will announce a sched-ule of future purchase dates.

StatsCan HousingData Reveals

Changes

Nationally, the New HousingPrice Index increased, year-over-year, by 2.3 per cent inAugust compared with 2.7 percent in July, Statistics Canadareported in October.

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On a monthly basis, priceswere unchanged between Julyand August, with the NewHousing Price Index remainingat 158.6 (1997=100).

Regionally, prices rose at thefastest pace in St. John’s with anannual price increase of 23.7per cent. Builders reported thatmaterial and labour costs, aswell as higher land developmentcosts, contributed to the in-creases in this city.

Regina, which registered nomonthly price change in August,had the second highest annualincrease for surveyed Canadiancities at 23.1 per cent. However,this was down from its recordincrease of 34.0 per cent in Aprilof this year.

In Saskatoon, the year-over-year increase was 8.0 per cent,again confirming a trend of de-celeration in this city. On amonth-over-month basis, newhousing prices decreased by3.1 per cent as Saskatoonbuilders reported slowing

housing product to Saskatoon,manufactured entirely from fac-tory built, pre-fabricated com-ponents. This type of housingis extremely energy efficient,with estimates as high as 70 percent more energy efficient thanconventional housing. Thehousing product exceedsEnergyStar and R2000 stand-ards. Their proposal is for 56units in total. The average costto construct the dwellings onlyis estimated to be $140 persquare foot.

The Affordable New HomeDevelopment Foundation sub-mitted a proposal to build threeinnovative “big house” designs.The foundation has contractedwith three small local buildersto offer training opportunities toyoung skilled tradespeoplethroughout the constructionprocess. The three companieswill be mentored by two larger,more experienced housingfirms, North Prairie andNorthridge Developments. The

New housing price indexes(1997=100) August August 2007 July to

2008 to August 2008 August 2008% change

Canada total 158.6 2.3 0.0 House only 168.0 1.8 0.0 Land only 140.2 3.4 0.1St. John’s 170.4 23.7 0.7Halifax 149.8 7.2 0.0Montréal 163.4 5.2 0.7Ottawa–Gatineau 168.7 4.1 0.0Toronto 146.5 3.4 0.1Winnipeg 180.2 6.7 0.2Regina 248.5 23.1 0.0Saskatoon 229.0 8.0 -3.1Calgary 246.1 -1.1 -0.8Edmonton 234.3 -5.7 0.0Vancouver 124.2 1.5 -0.1

Victoria 118.3 -0.3 -0.3

market conditions and stiffcompetition from the resalehousing market.■ STATISTICS CANADA

AffordableHousing in

Pleasant Hill

The City of Saskatoon Commu-nity Services Department re-ceived four proposals for the

Pleasant Hill RevitalizationProject.

Of the four proposals, twowere ranked highly by the Pleas-ant Hill Review Committee: onefrom Cenith Energy Corpora-tion, an Ontario company, andone from the Affordable NewHome Development Founda-tion.

The proposal from CenithEnergy Corporation (Ontario)will introduce a new kind of

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“Big House” design is a newform of stacked townhouses,containing 12 dwellings each,for a total of 36 units. It is a veryneighbourhood friendly designwith patios, porches, and balco-nies, and each unit has views intwo directions. The units will bebuilt to EnergyStar specifica-tions. The average cost to con-struct the dwellings only is esti-mated to be $120 to $160 persquare foot.

The City of Saskatoon reviewcommittee ranked both propos-als highly, but the proposal fromthe foundation fell short in someareas. The Cenith proposal willbring new building technologiesto Saskatoon and significantlyreduce the operating costs ofhousing for the owners by ex-ceeding EnergyStar and R2000specifications. It is a custom builtdesign which will have inputfrom the review committee mem-bers and Cress Housing, Habi-tat for Humanity, and Quint De-velopment Corporation.

In recognition of the strongproposal submitted by Afford-able New Home DevelopmentFoundation (ANHDF), the Ad-ministration is recommendingentering into negotiations withthe ANHDF to try and securethe development of housingunits on future developmentparcels within the Pleasant HillRevitalization area.

The proposals were broughtbefore city council on October27. Council voted unanimouslyto defer discussion to a sched-uled committee meeting the fol-lowing week, with a council de-cision expected in November.■ CITY OF SASKATOON

U of S ChoosesMeridian for

Student Housing

The University of Saskatch-ewan and Saskatoon-based Me-ridian Development Corp. haveteamed up to explore business

models for up to 200 four-bed-room new student housing unitsat the university. The projectwould be located near theWilliams Building on Cumber-land Avenue.

“We know on-campus hous-ing is an important part of thestudent experience,” said Rich-ard Florizone, U of S vice-presi-dent of finance and resources.“As an institution, we are deter-mined to provide the kinds ofhousing options students want,need and can afford.”

The U of S invited proposalsfor the residence project fromprivate-sector developers inmid-August in order to explorepotential development modelsthat would address the financialchallenges associated with a stu-dent housing development, saidFlorizone. A number of compa-nies came forward with propos-als but Meridian’s demonstratedthe strongest understanding ofthe particular needs related tostudent housing, he said.

“We’re excited to be workingwith the University of Saskatch-ewan,” said Colleen Wilson, apartner in Meridian Develop-ment Corp. “We understand thepressures on students to findaffordable housing inSaskatoon, and the university’sdesire to create an enrichingenvironment and to finance andbuild projects like this on itsown.”

Located in the heart ofSaskatoon, the University ofSaskatchewan is one of the lead-ing medical doctoral universitiesin Canada. With 58 degrees, di-plomas and certificates in over100 areas of study, the Univer-sity is uniquely positioned in theareas of human, animal andplant studies. World-class re-search facilities, renowned fac-ulty and award winning stu-dents make the U of S a leaderin post-secondary education.■ UNIVERSITY OF SASKATOON

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s h o w c a s eThe European

TouchKurylyk Home

Inspired by GleamingItalian Tile

Porcelain floor tiles from Italyprovided the inspiration forthe interior of Michelle andRon Kurylyk’s CathedralBluffs home.

“When we were looking atflooring, we saw this tile,” saysMichelle. “It had a real shimmerto it. It looked like sand. I likedthe flow of it. That was the in-spiration of this house.”

In fact, that special tile influ-enced the colour scheme, thehardwood flooring elsewhere inthe house, the cabinetry andcountertops in the kitchen, andother design elements.

Michelle and her husbandRon operate three businesses.Aspen West Constructionbuilds new homes and conductshome renovations. Aspen Inte-riors is their commercial con-struction business. For residen-tial customers, Très Chic Inte-riors provides interior designconsulting.

The porcelain tiles resonatethroughout the house. Theyare the first thing you noticewhen you walk through thefront entrance, leading aroundthe staircase and into the

kitchen and dining area. Theyare in the master bath, wherethey also rise into some of thevertical surfaces of the showerenclosure and bathtub. Theyform the stair tread leading to

the basement, where they flowinto the entertainment and ex-ercise areas.

On the main floor, maple en-gineered wood flooring with awarm walnut semi-gloss finishprovides the perfect comple-ment to the porcelain, definingthe living room and connectingthe bedrooms. Downstairs,Marmoleum flooring blendswith the tiles, while establishinga durable surface for everydayactivities.

With the tiles and flooringsetting the tone, Michelle thenchose the furniture to match thecolour scheme. Searching for asectional and chaise to suit thelivingroom, she found what she

needed at Furniture World.Cushions turned up at Detailsand Winners, the lively rug atPier One Imports.

“The table? That was atEQ3,” says Michelle. “I reallyliked the water droplet look. Itmakes you just want to touch it.”

The drapery was prepared bythe Blind Factory, developedfrom a green fabric that Michellehad found earlier; they com-

Above: A 19 by 16 foot sun room,originally designed as an outdoorpatio, lets the couple enjoy their viewof the South Saskatchewan River yearround.

Left: A contemporary chandelier,supplied by Richardson Lighting,graces the entrance foyer, while acurved staircase leads to the basement.Photos by Amela Mujkic, Realview.ca

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pleted the look with the brownfabric and trim.

The maple cabinetry in thekitchen expresses Michelle’spersonal vision.

“I wanted a rich, elegant, nottoo fussy, contemporary style,”she says.

The cabinetry began with ahand-rubbed red stain, then wasoverlayed with a dark, almostblack, stain. The counter topsare a dark African granite, sup-plied by Michelangelo Marbleand Granite, while the backsplash is finished in porcelaintile.

Above left: Maple kitchen cabinetry,maple flooring and other designelements were chosen to blend withthe Italian porcelain tile flooring. Thelighting in the dining and kitchen is ofthe same design as the chandelier inthe entrance foyer.

Left: The kitchen features maplecabinets, hand rubbed with a red stain,then covered with a darker staindesigned to compliment the tones ofthe Italian tiles.

Above right: An alcove at the side ofthe entrance foyer.

Below: When Ron and MichelleKurylyk started building their newhome in Cathedral Bluff in February,2006, they began to fulfill a dream tolive on an acreage. They moved intothe 1976 square foot bungalow, with1676 square foot basement, in May2007. The spectacular entrancechandelier is visible through the frontwindow. Photos by Amela Mujkic,Realview.ca

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The lighting is striking. Anornate, contemporarily-styledchandelier, supplied byRichardson Lighting, hangs inthe main entrance foyer. Match-ing pendant lamps illuminatethe kitchen counter, while asmaller chandelier of the samedesign augments the diningarea. Almost all their lighting isfrom Richardson, says Michelle,adding that she and Ron havedealt with that company for atleast 20 years.

“I like to stay local, keep ourproduct from Saskatchewan,”says Ron.

There are other interestingdetails in the house, little thingsthat most people wouldn’t no-tice, but which show a particu-lar attention to detail.

With so much residentialconstruction completed usingsharp corners or rounded, bullnose corners on the interior

walls, the couple decided thattheir house needed a refreshinglook. They finished their wallswith baby chamfer corners, cre-ating a tasteful bevel wherevertwo walls meet.

“It’s a special order,” saysRon. “I build this stuff all thetime, and we just wanted some-thing different.”

A sound system is built in,with speakers wired into theceilings throughout the house,installed by Visions Electronics.

“I try to do it on as thriftybudget as a person can, actu-ally,” says Michelle, adding thatshe carries the same thriftinessinto the work she does for herclients. “I’ll shop, I’ll hunt untilI find the perfect item at a goodprice.”

“Sometimes you have to paya bit more if you’re in love withsomething and you just have tohave it,” she adds.

Right The living room features maplefloors and a fireplace shared with themaster bedroom. Painting, “AbstractSquares,” by Patrick St. Germain, fivehand-painted abstracts on stretchedcanvases floating on a hand-paintedand banged metal background with adouble wood frame treatment.

Below: Imported Italian porcelain floortiling provided the inspiration for thehome’s interior design, says Michelle.The tiles flow throughout the house,with other design elements, such as themaple flooring and counters, designedto blend with the floor. In-floor heatingbeneath the tiled portions of the floormaintains even temperature that onlyoccasionally needs to be supplementedby the forced air furnace.

Bottom: Michelle chose the colours ofthe master bedroom to complement thetones of the Italian floor tiles. Thehardwood flooring is maple engineeredwood with a walnut semigloss finish.

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Interior DesignerHappy Grove

Creator ofHarmonious and

Healthy Living Spaces

It’s surprising, sometimes,how the seemingly randomtwists and turns of life can leadsomeone to a destination towhich they needed to arrive.

Happy Grove, born andraised in Calgary, came toSaskatoon five years ago. He hadbeen a successful and sought af-ter interior designer in Calgary.His firm, at its height, sustainedtwo partners, two junior design-ers and a staff of eight people.

“We were doing residentialdesign mostly,” he says. “Somehigh end commercial, butmostly residential. That’s mypassion for sure.”

He taught interior design atMount Royal College, where hehad completed his education adecade earlier, a process whichhad begun at Ryerson Univer-sity before that.

But Calgary was losing thelustre that made it such a won-derful place to grow up. WhenGrove’s partner, artist AdrianStimson, was accepted into aUniversity of Saskatchewanmaster’s program, they bothwere very ready to be in asmaller city, says Grove. Calgary

could make a person insane.“To see it just grow so fast and

so big, and the attitudes aroundthat growth: boom and bust, it’sbig bravado and a lot of show,”he says. “That kind of rapid ex-pansion and growth, movingthen into concurrent areas of nogrowth and shrinking creates acity that looks like Calgary, andit didn’t feel good at all. It wastaking me 45 minutes to drive towork, where it would take hereless than eight. I just was ready

for a break and a change and togo.”

They bought into a land co-operative near Shellbrook, stay-ing for four months before mov-ing to Saskatoon. They built twostraw bale buildings from mate-rials reaped from the land: strawfrom local fields and naturalmud recipes.

“It was a very refreshing ap-proach to creating space,” hesays.

Once in Saskatoon, Grove

became fascinated with Japa-nese shiatsu massage, learningthe craft from Yuki Sugimoto.

“Even though at the time Ididn’t recognize it, it has totallyhelped form and inform my newlove of interior design,” saysGrove.

When his shiatsu practice wascut short by injury, interior de-sign fell back into his lap. Hehad stayed in touch with thebusiness through the Saskatch-ewan Association for Commu-nity Living’s Designing Spacesfundraising project, participat-ing for two years, when sud-denly a client knocked on hisdoor.

“Giving myself a clean, fresh,start mid-career helped shakeloose some of my old attitudes,”he says. “We’re living in a timeof dramatic change where wemust focus on what we’re doingto the planet in order to get ourenvironments built. I had theold-school attitude: if you canafford it, have it; and if you want,it have it.”

p r o f i l eHappy Grove believes that people arehappiest and healthiest in spaces thatembody the expression of their trueselves. The designer loves the“humanness” of residential spaces,where people express their family andpersonal lives. “I like bringing people’spersonalities into spaces,” he says.Saskatoon is a city with so muchpotential: “It’s filled with people whoare caring and want the city tosucceed.”

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That approach was unsus-tainable. It failed to considerembodied energy or life span, hesays.

“We were just trying to createfabulous looking space. Breakingfrom that and moving into thisraw place where I had my feetand hands in the ground andbuilding with materials that werefrom there, really gave me a newoutlook on it. Learning shiatsu,in a more abstract way, helpedme because in shiatsu the phi-losophy is that your energeticbody informs your physicalbody. If you think you’re sick,you will make yourself sick.Thinking is energy. It’s not aphysical thing, yet it directly re-lates to how we experience our-selves in the physical world.”

In other words, people haveemotional responses to theirphysical environment, whetherit’s memories associated withthe furniture they brought withthem from university or hadshared with others. Many cli-ents, for example, have said thattheir wives hated their furniture.It was the husband’s furniturebefore them, from a differenttime. Yet, couples kept the fur-niture.

“They’re fighting againstthemselves and creating dishar-mony and that resonates intohow we act and are in theworld,” says Grove. “Learningshiatsu, getting in touch with theearth and being alive at a timewhen we’re really encouraged tothink wisely about what we’re

doing, I got this whole other wayof thinking about it.

“I’m more likely to say to myclient, ‘How much does it meanto you and do you like it,?’ ver-sus, ‘I don’t think it goes.’ Andif the client loves it, we’ll find away to put it in there, because Ibelieve that resonance is wherehealth lies. Every human beingon the planet creates a littlespace to live in and when it’shealthy, we support our ownhealth.”

Consequently, Grove has be-come a proponent of naturalmaterials that minimize harm tothe environment. A wool carpetwith jute backing, for example,is a renewable resource. Theglue may be less renewable, butit’s only one element among eve-rything else from which the car-pet is made.

“When I put that carpet in thedump when I’m done with it,I’m going to feel a lot better thanI would have if I had put a fabu-lous nylon carpet in the dump.Wool and jute goes back into thesoil.

“We used to think about ‘cra-dle-to-grave’ life spans for ob-jects, but now it’s ‘cradle to cra-dle’, the cradle being the earth,from which we take all the ma-terials that we manipulate to cre-ate our stuff — and it’s got to goback to the earth. When youlook at it (that way), the dump’snot the last thing that happensto our stuff. It’s just part of thatprocess of it going back into theearth.

“I think of that when I’m de-signing,” he explains.

His Saskatoon business,HAPPYLIVINGSPACE, isgrowing by word of mouth, pro-viding exciting residentialprojects to work on.

“I just love it,” he says. “I likethe humanness of these spaces.It’s where life is: family life, per-sonal life.

“I like bringing people’s per-sonalities into spaces. I don’thave a ‘look’. I try different ap-proaches and lots of differentthings.”

“I’m working on my ownagain. I love working on myown. It’s because it don’t workalone. I work with architects. Iwork with engineers. I workwith the contractors. I workwith the home owner. They’reall part of the great big team ofpeople that have to come to-gether to make this work.”

Saskatoon is definitely whereit has all come together forGrove.

“Most people go somewherefor a reason: they’ve got a job oran opportunity. I came here forvery personal reasons. In hind-sight, I can say this is the bestdecision I could ever havemade.

“When I look back, this cityhas so much potential. It is filledwith people who are caring andwant the city to succeed. I camehere without knowing what thisplace would reveal or yield forme, only to be absolutely de-lighted.”

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t i p s h e e tInterior Designer

or Decorator?Make Your Choice

According toExperience

Homeowners make decisionsabout adding more space totheir existing home or chang-ing window sizes and shapes.Some projects can be handledby the homeowner. Others maybe overwhelming or too compli-cated to tackle without profes-sional expertise. But which de-sign professional is the right onefor the job – an interior designeror interior decorator?

There seems to be confusionover the role of these profession-als. Often, people use the de-scriptions interchangeably. Bothprofessions are essential to thedesign industry, but there are

significant variations in the serv-ices each provides.

What is the difference?

Marian Hoffos, owner ofHolliday-Scott Interiors DesignStudio, says the most telling dif-ference is the education andprofessional designation.

“An interior designer musthave post secondary educationfrom an accredited institution ordesign school,” says Hoffos.“This includes a combination ofeducation plus work experi-ence, which in Saskatchewan isa minimum of seven years. Pro-fessional affiliation with an In-terior Design Association is alsoa requirement.”

As past president of the Inte-rior Designers Association ofSaskatchewan (IDAS), Hoffossays the Association helps stu-

dents by providing mentorshipand guidance through a manda-tory number of Certified Edu-cation Units.

When a student reaches thecombined education and workexperience level, they completea written exam offered throughthe National Council for Inte-rior Design Qualification(NCIDQ). Certification byNCIDQ provides the legal enti-tlement of Professional InteriorDesigner.

An interior decorator, on theother hand, does not requireaccreditation, although decora-tors often bring with them a con-siderable wealth of educationand experience. Individualsmay enrol in courses or classesin interior decoration to aug-ment their creative flair.

What services and

professional skills guide

each field?

Hoffos describes an interior de-signer as a planner of spacewithin a built shell.

“I measure the space and de-termine the mechanicals for thefloor plans,” says Hoffos. “Theplans includes the design for themillwork, lighting, specialitywall finishes and plumbing.”

An interior designer must beknowledgeable of buildingcodes, egress and fire code re-quirements, while protectingthe life, health, safety and wel-fare of the public.

Hiring an interior designerfrom the very beginning of theproject, prior to the contractor,gives a homeowner an opportu-nity to figure out their needsbefore the design occurs.

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Hoffos says, “From the first few meetings with

a client, an interior designer will determine if a

structural or mechanical engineer is required on

the project, and then can design, draft and coor-

dinate all the information to complete the work-

ing drawings and tendering package that would

go out to the perspective contractors.”

Upon determining the client’s needs, interior

designers may offer the following services: space

planning and layout, selection of materials and

finishes, product specification, liaison with other

consultants and project management.

“With the client’s specifications in mind, I’d

like to think we make the contractor’s job easier,”

says Hoffos. “Interior designers’ knowledge

about the industry helps deal with problems that

may arise on the job site.”

Interior decorators focus on decor, by adding

decoration to an environment that is already

built. As an example, they can help clients select

colours, styles and finishes of window coverings,

lighting fixtures and placement of artworks.

Happy Grove, owner of HAPPYLIVING-

SPACE Interior Design Studio, defines decor as

part of design.

“Design is the bigger picture,” says Grove.

“Design implies that you’re going ‘into’ the physi-

cal form of the space. Decor is ‘on’ the physical

space, the surfaces, the paint colour, the drapes,

furniture, fabrics, lighting and so forth.”

Without the education and professional des-

ignation, interior decorators are not qualified to

draw up plans or work on projects that require

structural alternations.

When selecting the appropriate professional,

and to make the task easier, it becomes impor-

tant that homeowners have a clear understand-

ing of the work they need help with.

Hoffos also advises that, in the case of interior

designers, check if they have errors and omis-

sions insurance, Workers Compensation cover-

age, and general office liability insurance. As

members of IDAS, they must have these. She also

suggests asking for references for similar scaled

projects and calling the references.

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SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:39 PM24

SASKATOON HOME WINTER 2008 25SASKATOON HOME FALL 2008

TheINSIDESTORY

WelcomingSpaces

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AEven if we cherish outdoor ac-tivities, such as cross countryskiing or travelling to vacationspots in more southerly lati-tudes, the fact is we still spendmore time indoors than out.Our trips are short. We alwaysreturn home.

We take comfort in the famil-iar things around us, and no-where is comfort and familiar-ity more intensely felt than in-side our homes. Our earliestmemories centre around thehome. It’s where we were raised,so naturally there is a cultural in-fluence on why we take comfortin these spaces. Our homes arethe first place we felt safe andprotected.

Elsewhere in this issue, de-signer Adrienne Zvacek alludesto this when she describes theway in which Saskatoon styleblends urban and rural influ-ences. We take what was famil-iar to us in the past and carry itwith us as we advance. We cre-ate linkages between our pastand our present. We need thecontinuity. Tammy Thorson-Manchur also reinforces thisconcept, when she says that ourhomes allow an expression ofour individuality. We don’t needto follow the latest trends.

In a way, that’s what makesthe newest design trends so in-teresting. As much as our homesprovide stability, familiarity and

S THE WINTER

CLOSES IN, OUR INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS BECOME MORE IM-

PORTANT TO US. OUR INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECOR TAKE

ON A DIFFERENT MEANING AT THIS TIME OF YEAR THAN DUR-

ING WARMER MONTHS AND SEASONS WITH MORE DAYLIGHT.

Our homes are the enduring reflectionof who we are, and that is most true when

considering our interior spaces.

At Home in the Winter of Our Content

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comfort, we also like the latesttrends. Things that are new havea way of making us feel re-freshed. There’s always some-thing invigorating about updat-ing the look of our interiors, butwe do it on our own terms. Wemake the changes when we areready and do so to create a newenvironment with which we canquickly become comfortable.

Designers recognize this.Many of the newest designtrends reflect past styles. Archi-tect Bill Edwards notes that thegreat room, a design conceptthat many see as a new trend, ac-tually is an older concept that ismaking a comeback.

Our domestic space affects uspsychologically, too. It affectsour perception of density, pri-vacy and control, factors thatdirectly relate to the ways inwhich we feel stress in our lives.Even when living within a denseenvironment, which we seek outto fulfill our social needs, we stilldesire privacy in our personalspaces to make us feel healthyand sustained. Our homes arewhere we exercise control overour lives.

The quality of light that en-ters our homes also has a signifi-cant impact. Just ask anyonewho suffers from seasonal affec-tive disorder. But even forwhose who don’t, it’s knownthat natural light improvesmood. A wide spectrum of lightat high intensity makes us

happy. In our Saskatchewanwinters, we are exposed to lessnatural light but designers havea wonderful assortment of toolsfor compensating with an ever-expanding array artificial lightchoices. Designing with light isbecoming a growing trend.

Lamps and fixtures can makeambient light feel softer, spaceslarger. Adding more controlover lighting can help adjust themood of the room, creating amore appropriate atmospherefor night and day.

Light technology may be evenmore helpful in the future. Col-oured lights that subtly changetone according to the time ofday, or your mood, can matchyour circadian rhythms and cre-ate a healthier environment.

Related to light, colours playa role, too. Lighter colours makeour ceilings seem taller, ourrooms wider, our spaces moreopen. Darker colours feel lower,smaller, narrower and enclosed.Colours also influence the waywe perceive humidity, tempera-ture and aroma. Orange isn’tjust a “warm” colour, it actuallymakes you feel warmer. Pinkmakes you believe that whateveryou’re eating at the moment issweeter.

Our interiors provide stabil-ity in our lives. The outsideworld can change, but we expectour homes to welcome us backinto our familiar environments.■ darrell noakes

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Colleen Wilson getsher inspiration frommany sources. Peopleabsorb a lot whenthey travel, she says.Seeing ideas put intopractice elsewhere,whether it’straditional design or atrendy new style,opens the designer’simagination to newpossibilities at home.Saskatoon is seeingmore progressivedesigns, says Wilson.

DESIGN

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Global Sophistication InspiresInterior Designer’s Projects

Colleen Wilson recalls a memorable tel-evision talk show appearance by actressand singer Della Reese, in which the enter-tainer said there are some days when shefeels like Little Bo Peep.

“That’s kind of how I feel about houses,”says Wilson. “I see so many things whenwe’re in the process of decorating and do-ing things for the company. You get ideas andyou want to do them, but you can’t do themall in one house.”

Wilson, perhaps most widely recognizedas a host and producer on Global Television

since its Saskatoon beginnings, is a drivingforce behind Meridian Development. Alongwith her business partner, Karl Miller, andher husband, developer Ken Achs, Wilsonis instrumental in defining Saskatoon style.

“I didn’t come into it doing that,” she says.“I came into it being a lawyer, but I’ve al-ways been creative, long before I became alawyer, and was involved in the fashion in-dustry. The fashion industry and home de-cor go hand in hand.”

Wilson’s first design happened almost byaccident. One of her husband’s residential


GNDIVA

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projects needed a different perspective. Thedesign seemed just not quite right, and eve-ryone involved in the project was stymied.

“He said, ‘I’ll have to get somebody elseto do it – you. That was the beginning. Sincethen, I’ve been very involved. That goes back12 years already. My whole personality iscreative.”

Working exclusively for Meridian Devel-opment and Mid-West Development Corpo-ration, Wilson designs the interiors of someof Saskatoon’s most prominent buildings.The King George Hotel conversion down-town, the award-winning Hideaway in-fill de-velopment in Nutana, and the Luxe condo-minium development on Broadway are partof Wilson’s portfolio, as well as projects in

Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle. WhileMeridian’s focus is more toward residential,Mid-West’s projects tap into Wilson’s com-mercial design and decorating skills.

“I think that commercial spaces have hada huge impact on residential design,” shesays. “Look at this whole loft, urban livingconcept. A lot of that came out of industrialdesign and adaptive re-use of space.”

The industrial components from theseprojects create an edgy, urban look that de-signers then began to create deliberately, sheexplains. Now, style is shifting toward some-thing slightly more elegant.

“We’re going to be designing and finish-ing one of the penthouses at Luxe. A lot ofthe ideas that the three of us have on thedrawing board for the interiors have comeout of things that we’ve seen commercially.Commercial design is hugely important.

“Probably one of the biggest trends that’shad an impact on residential design is thewhole hotel look,” she adds. “Decoratinghotels is actually commercial design. It’s notresidential design, even though the end useruses it as a place to stay. That whole bou-tique hotel look has had a huge impact onresidential design.”

Frequently, commercial and residentialspace blend together, she says. For example,restaurants, boutique shops and hotels of-

Simplicity defines living room style in the Opus. Allimages courtesy of Colleen Wilson

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ten try to capture a residentialstyle to help guests feel comfort-able.

“There’s a lot of overlap now.I’m lucky that I’m in a positionwhere I’m exposed to that.”

Echoing the sentiments ofmany designers, Wilson finds thatinspiration often comes from be-ing exposed to other places andcultures. Travel, whether to exoticand historic cities such as Paris orBarcelona, a bustling metropolislike New York City, or modernurban centres like Vancouver andLas Vegas, lets Wilson synthesizeold and new world ideas and in-corporate design elements andstyles in refreshing combinations.

“One of the things that I loveabout travel is to see all the build-ings,” she says. “When we werein Paris, a few years ago, there’sthis hotel that I really wanted togo and see, the Hôtel Kléber. It’s not one ofthe high profile hotels, but it’s a fabulous,beautiful hotel. It’s been used on movie sets.It was the hotel that the Kennedys loved tostay at when they were on less-public trips.”

Located near the Eiffel Tower, the Kléberfeatures traditional stonework, ornately-painted walls, marble floors, solid oak wood-work, a glass dome, rich fabrics and Bohe-mian crystal chandelier combined to createa distinctive and warm atmosphere. Amongits other amenities available to guests, the ho-tel has a roof top deck overlooking down-town Paris. That hotel became the inspira-tion for the rebirth of Saskatoon’s venerableKing George Hotel.

“It was so beautiful,” says Wilson. “Ithought, why are we not using rooftops? Iknow in Saskatoon, we get some bad weatherin the winter, but we still get some pretty nicesummer nights.”

When the King George opens next year,it will incorporate a roof deck with an out-door kitchen and green spaces.

“It’ll be a great space for people who livethere to be able to entertain friends in thesummer.”

The Parisienne influence will also influ-ence the King George in other ways. Muchof the historical detail of the hotel was de-stroyed in the 1960 renovation. It wouldhave been impossible to restore the hotel,and difficult to reproduce the original style.In addition, the original architecture, withits small windows, creates a dark, crampedatmosphere that people don’t accept thesedays. But the character of the hotel, the el-egance that people remember, if not the de-tail, could be captured in its conversion to a

retail, commercial and residentialcentrepiece of the city.

“We’re not going to be ableto re-create the old building,” saysWilson, “but we want to createsomething that references perioddesign, the old European influ-ence, which the King Georgeoriginally was, and incorporatewith that the kind of features thatpeople are looking for today.”

The new King George willhave huge, incredible windows,says Wilson. The exterior of thebuilding will be completed with adistinctive French flair.

“That all came out of that tripto Paris. It may be more like theGeorge V Hotel in Paris than likethe original King George, but itstill hearkens back to the Euro-pean architectural references thatare part of our Canadian history.”

“I think Saskatoon is reallybecoming a more and more progressive cityin terms of design,” she adds. “We’ve alwayshad a very rich appreciation for culture. Peo-ple are travelling a lot now. They absorb alot when they travel.”

The entire province is coming into itsown, she says. Consequently, the people wholive here have a greater acceptance and de-sire for the styles and influences they see glo-bally.

What we’re seeing elsewhere influenceshow we interpret style here. We have avoidedfalling into the trap of simply copying whatwe see in other places.

“What looks absolutely perfect in NewYork won’t look absolutely perfect inAcapulco,” says Wilson. “You can go and seethe most fabulous Mexican villa built some-where on the Mexican Riviera, but youwouldn’t come and build that here. It wouldlook completely out of place.”

Imaginative flair shows in the choice of basins andfaucets in the Murano. Each one is different.

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The Villagio:

Unique and Heritage-inspired

There’s an elegant row of townhouses at one

of Saskatoon’s oldest neighbourhood corners,

near a little triangle of land where Temper-

ance Street, Lansdowne Avenue and 14th

Street intersect.

“It’s in the middle of one of the greatest

neighbourhoods in the city,” says Wilson.

“Right on the corner – how perfect is that,

with the little art gallery, little restaurant. We

loved building that project, because we’d just

go sit at the restaurant all the time. Karl and I

wanted to show that we were carrying on

with Ken’s reverence for heritage. Every one

of those units is completely different inside.”

Above: Savory Dining Room.

Left: Chateau Loire Ceiling

SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:40 PM34


Instead, you might interpret the ideas andincorporate them into our local style, shesays.

“You take ideas and you make them workin the context of where you are.”

Wilson likes to examine movie set design.Set designers know that the work they dosets the atmosphere that audiences react to.

In the movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, for ex-ample, Wilson says while everyone else waslooking at the movie, she was watching theset. There’s the most fantastic kitchen in thatmovie, she says.

“For most people, it goes unnoticed, un-less that’s part of your work to look at it. Iget a lot of inspiration from what I see from

movie set designers. They are such talentedpeople.”

Television similarly influences fashion andhome design, says Wilson.

“Take a show like Mad Men, a very popu-lar TV show set in the early 60s. I will betthat you will start to see that come back, inclothing and then in the colours and, in turn,in interior decor – not exactly the way it wasdone then, but with a new edge.

“In Europe, they do a great job of beingable to blend all of the historical buildingsand references with ultra-modern design,”says Wilson.

When you think of Italian design, she says,you tend to think of clean, sleek lines, juxta-posed against Renaissance architecture.

“You might see a room that has ornate

mouldings, that’s in a building four or fivehundred years old, with marble on the floors.And then you see this really clean lined fur-niture, like a Roche Bobois, or somethinglike that. It looks fantastic. They’ve reallymastered the idea of being able to blend andhave a really eclectic look. People like eclec-tic.

“There’s so much fusion and blendingnow, the trick is to do it right – when you’redoing it for other people. When you’re do-ing it for yourself, you only have to satisfyyourself – it doesn’t matter what other peo-ple think. If you’re happy in your space,that’s the most important thing, that you feelgood in your home, that it fits with you andreflects what you like. You can’t help buthave it reflect your character then.”

Bright and airy defines this living roomspace in the Kitsilano.

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Miami-inspired DesignThe Luxe Condos on

Broadway

If plans for Broadway’s newest commer-cial and residential condominium devel-opment seem to remind you of an episodeof CSI Miami, it’s probably no accident.

“One of the big influences for that build-ing came from South Beach in Miami,” saysColleen Wilson. “The fins on that buildingcame from that Art Deco influence, yet wedidn’t want something that looked just likeMiami sitting in the middle of Broadway. So,we changed it with the colours and with theiron work and the use of stone – natural col-ours from the prairies. We wanted it to havea contemporary edge, because Broadway isvery eclectic.

“It’s a very eclectic looking street. Whenyou get into some of the neighbourhoods offBroadway, where the houses are all charac-ter homes, you’ve got to be more careful.When we built The Hideaway, we didn’twant to put a glass and steel structure, buton Broadway, you’ve got more leeway be-cause its so eclectic.”

The Luxe went through quite a few trans-formations before the final design was set-

tled, says Wilson. Although at times it hadbecome somewhat of a controversial devel-opment – Broadway is one of those districtswith a shared sense of ownership among allthe citizens of Saskatoon – Wilson and herpartners were committed to coming up witha design that would blend well with the streetand complement the neighbourhood, whileremaining economically feasible.

The HideawayArts & Crafts Meets

Modern

In designing The Hideaway residentialcondominium in Nutana, Wilson consid-ered the character of the neighbourhoodand imagined the kind of people whowould live there.

She and Miller knew that a suitable designwould have to comprise traditional elements.They looked to the Arts and Crafts movementfor the exterior.

“We used that as a reference point,” saysWilson, “but when it actually came to thecolours we didn’t stay completely true, be-cause a lot of the Arts and Crafts interiorswere very dark, with very dark wood, and wedidn’t want them to be that dark inside.”

Instead, they chose colours that wouldblend with and reflect the natural environ-ment of the Saskatchewan setting. Althoughthe design has elements to something very tra-ditional, it’s not in a staid way, says Wilson.

“It’s very new looking. When we did themodel, we did what we always try to do whenwe build. We try to put ourselves in the headspace of the person who would be livingthere. This is the person who wants their ownidentity, with their own house, but probablyhas a lifestyle that they don’t want to be mar-ried to their house, they don’t want to be look-ing after a big yard. We thought about thecharacter of people who like to live nearBroadway area. Most of them are fairly crea-tive people, fairly well-travelled people. Wethought somebody who lives here might likethis condominium life style because theytravel a lot, but they still want a definition oftheir own home. We were trying to make itlook more like a home that somebody actu-ally lived in.”

Left: When it's completed, the Luxe on Broadway willcombine Miami South Beach's Art Deco influenceswith prairie-inspired textures and colours found inSaskatoon.

Right: The Hideaway's open concept design blendsmodern and traditional.

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Homeowners’ choices of decorative light-ing, whether lamps, chandeliers, pendantsor accents, is one of the easiest decor op-tions to add interest and energy to a room.It shows off personal style and flair, can makea room feel warm, inviting and comfortableor the opposite. With today’s home light-ing trends, the feel of your home can be cap-tured in an endless choice of lighting fix-tures, textures, styles and colours.

You’ll want the lighting in your home toachieve four primary functions – to serve as

a decorative element, add to the accent feel,as task lighting and to create a soft glow illu-mination to the entire house.

Managing partner Ward Lorenz ofRichardson Lighting says styles vary greatly:“hi-tech” or “funky,” traditional, or transi-tional which some people call “soft modern.”Soft modern is “in between traditional andhi-tech,” says Lorenz. “It’s got nice cleanlines, but not too techy looking.”

With more open designs of homes, home-owners can consider a family of fixtures to

How to Brighten Your Interior in theSeasonal Saskatoon Gloom

THELIGHT

ITHIN


W

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give a cohesive look to any room inthe home.

Lorenz describes this as a designtrend that manufacturers have intro-duced within the past decade or so,used to achieve a particular look withdifferent body styles, be it pendantsor chandeliers or flush mounts, thatcan be used throughout the home tofit different applications, but with acommon look.

“A lot of the newer homes are wideopen,” he says. “You can see two orthree different areas of the home, of-ten all from one position, so home-owners like to have the fixtures co-ordinated.”

Manufacturers of families of fix-tures have entire lines of lightingproducts for the home including:chandeliers, wall sconce lighting,mini-pendant lighting, kitchen islandlighting, foyer lighting, flush mountceiling lighting and bathroom vanitylighting to name a few.

With all the new looks in fixtures,don’t despair that former favouritesare totally gone.

“We’re starting to see a lot of crys-tal,” says Lorenz. “Crystal’s makinga real comeback, but not necessarilyin the traditional sense. It’s crystalused in more of a contemporary styl-ing or a contemporary frame on thefixture, more straight lines, not sofrilly, twisty.”

Lorenz goes on to say it is not onlyclear crystal but coloured crystal aswell and a fair amount of black crys-tal.

This grand chandelier in the entrancy foyerof the home of Michelle and Ron Kurylykwas brought in by special order. Its design isechoed in the pendant lights in the kitchenand the smaller chandelier in the dining area.

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Similar concept design changeshave also been applied to Tiffanylamps, with updated contemporaryshapes and textures.

Angela Schnitzler, design consult-ant with Unique Lighting, saysyounger people are buying housesnow.

“It’s not Grandma’s crystal orGrandma’s Tiffany any more, “ shesays. “We have warmer colours andTiffany shades made with jadestone.”

Materials used in fixtures and thecombinations of textures used to-gether have resulted in eye-catchingdramatic lighting.

“Shells are the newest thing,”Schnitzler says. “We’re seeing lotsof natural materials, like wood, shells,rattans, stone and marble. Lots ofthings painted to look like more natu-ral materials like grasses.”

“We’re seeing crystal with fabric,a lot,” Lorenz says. “Fabric shadeswith crystal hanging below. Some-times there are square or rectangu-lar type shades with crystal or justround drum shades with crystal ac-cents. Some of the more modern,contemporary crystal, the frames aremostly hidden and the crystal willform the shape.”

As for the bulbs, there are entireenergy efficiency sections in thelighting catalogues. Several of thefixtures are manufactured to fit anybulb. Halogen bulbs seem to be themost popular and are available in dif-ferent shapes to suit the fixtures.

Dining room at the home of Michelle andRon Kurylyk, featuring contemporary crystalchandelier. The chandelier's ornate design isechoed in the pendant lights in the kitchenand an impressive large chandelier thatgraces the main entrance foyer.

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Saskatoon is a city coming into its own in

terms of sophistication and developing a dis-

tinctive style to go along with it. It has a sim-

plicity rooted in rural roots as well as modern

metropolitan taste. There is a warmth that

springs from the joy of community and con-

nection as well as staying cozy and bright dur-

ing the cold winter nights. Nature lends an in-

spiration from the prairie landscape and the

river.

Saskatoon Home asked three of the city’s

leading interior designers to help define

Saskatoon style as well as share their knowledge

on other related topics ranging from upcoming

design trends to favourite rooms, colour schemes

and design trends.

What are the elements that defineSaskatoon interior design style toyou?

Zvacek: Saskatoon is hungry for more in terms

of interior design and is making a name for itself

in the interior design industry. Saskatoon inte-

rior design blends together urban and rural de-

sign and lifestyle influences. The people of

Saskatoon don’t want to become so “big city”

that they lose their rural community orientated

roots.

Saskatoon residents love the sense of family

and community that comes from our rural roots

and are always looking for ways to allow for peo-

ple to better interact throughout rooms in their

homes. Hence, creating more open concept liv-

ing spaces, where people in many different rooms

can interact with one another, without being con-

fined to one small room. We’ve definitely seen a

trend where people are steering away from hav-

ing such formal rooms and having more of a

casual interactive floor plan. Our Saskatoon cli-

ents want to create inviting warm environments

that are comfortable and practical with a touch

of something special.

Kurylyk: I believe the key element is the beau-

tiful river that runs through our city. This is

where we gather with friends and family to enjoy

so many pleasures, from a leisurely stroll to nu-

merous seasonal activities that take place along

the river bank. It is an amazing and beautiful

downtown that will only get better with all the

new development we are seeing. When walking

along Meewasin Trail, it is apparent how we still

have the small town feel as you are greeted by

many people with a smile and friendly “hello.”

Whether traditional or contemporary, it is the

simple pleasures we enjoy as Saskatonians that

is communicated through our design style as an

uncomplicated elegance. We all have our own

unique style, and when combined with the nec-

essary balance and harmony, the possibilities are

endless.

Grove: Style is a word used to describe the

whole of the decisions made that result in our

built environment. These are the relationships

between person, place, and time. Drilled into us

at school is the idea that the best design is found

in nature. When we look to nature, we can see

systems that have adapted beautifully to support

our interface with the natural, physical world. All

design is ostensibly for us, so it is for nature and

within nature that style develops. Yet in our in-

formation age, where so much information is in-

stantly available, many styles are open to us, yet,

style becomes a very personal and unique thing.

PLACE: Our place has many attributes, such

as levelness, openness, subtleness and isolation.

Our place has its own unique colour palette, in-

digenous materials, and resources. It is when we

embrace our location, when we look to it to lead

us in material and colour choices, use of texture,

etc. that we begin to develop our own style. This

style will be unique to each, yet grounded and

unified in this place.

TIME: Not many notable building influences

since the late 50s. This fact is working well in

our favor. We stand at a critical time where the

decisions we will make about our built environ-

ment today will affect generations to come. We

are at a time when strong leadership, courage,

and strength are needed in our planning and

approval process, so we will provide healthy

buildings and interior environments with low

TheElementsofSaskatoonStyle

SASKATOON HOME ROUNDTABLE


SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:40 PM40


embodied energy, and sensitivity to the deple-

tion of our natural resources.

PEOPLE: This is where the unique and indi-

vidual qualities are seen, as no two of us are the

same. As a designer, I strive to understand the

families I design space for, so their wants and

needs are addressed within. This approach has

allowed me to explore and reinterpret different

looks and styles, creating individual interiors

uniquely suited to the client.

The biggest fear I have is that we become a

generic city, with all the same stores and outlets

as every other city on the continent. Same as all

other bigger cities image does not equal style, at

least not style unique to us as people living in

Saskatchewan, or more specifically Saskatoon.

Do we really need another Tim Horton’s? Do

they need one in Kandahar? Also, a pervasive de-

velopment strategy of minimizing costs equals no

style. Just look at Persephone Theatre – the best

lot in town, and the city approves a grey box ...

no art, no spirit, no longevity.

Where would you say Saskatoonstyle has its origins?

Zvacek: We all know a large percentage of Sas-

katchewan residence have rural roots and many

of them have migrated to larger Saskatchewan

centers such as Saskatoon, bringing with them

their practicality and sense of community. In

turn, Saskatoon residence are looking to larger

centers such as Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto,

where the design industry is more developed, in

which to pull resources back to Saskatchewan.

As such, this creates the mix between the rural

and urban design influences in Saskatoon.

Kurylyk: As prairie people, it dates back to our

farming communities. You would work hard and

get together around the kitchen table to eat, drink

and converse. We have a special connection to

our land now and in the days gone by. We still

continue to be a close-knit community even

though we have grown immensely and we show-

case this through our great style as the little

“Paris” of the prairies.

Grove: Where Saskatoon is excelling is in its

drive to keep the inner city vital and active by

encouraging more live/work spaces, as seen in

the loft conversions of late. This is also inherent

in some neighbourhood incentive programs for

new residents, as in Riversdale.

Do you see any major upcomingdesign trends, in general, andunique to Saskatoon in particular?

Zvacek: The entire design industry is seeing a

shift in many people’s mentality, in that now we’re

seeing people wanting to take advantage of the

convenience that new technology has brought us,

such as having your home wired with built in

speakers and iPod docking stations, being able

to control all electronics with a universal remote

or purchasing high tech “smart” appliances that

Saskatoon HomeRoundtable

PARTICIPANTS

Adrienne Zvacek

BID, Principal Designer of

Studio 2.0 Interior Design

Consultants

Adrienne Zvacek is the

Principal Designer of Studio

2.0 Interior Design Consult-

ants. She has her bachelor of

applied interior design degree

from Mount Royal College in

Calgary and is a proud

provisional member of the

Interior Designers Association

of Saskatchewan. Adrienne

was born and raised in

Saskatchewan and now calls

she decided to pursue her

passion and love for design

and decorating full time,

along with new home

construction. She holds a

professional design and

decorating diploma. She

enjoys being an active

member of the diverse

Saskatoon community from

tree decorating for the Festival

of Trees to being a member of

the Saskatoon Women’s

Network.

Happy Grove

BA, DID, Principal, HAPPY-

LIVINGSPACE Design Studio

HAPPYLIVINGSPACE is the

result of 19 years of education

and experience in the interior

Saskatoon home. She

specializes in new construction

and renovation projects in

both the residential and

commercial sectors of Sas-

katchewan. For more informa-

tion about Studio 2.0 Interior

Design Consultants please call

306.262.6884 or visit

www.studio2point0.ca.

Michelle Kurylyk

owner, Tres Chic Interiors &

Aspen West Construction

Michelle has been involved in

the decorating and design of

homes constructed through

family operated businesses for

more than 20 years. She was

in the banking industry for 17

years until March 2007 when

design industry. Happy

received his interior design

training from both Ryerson

Polytechnical Institute in

Toronto, and Mount Royal

College in Calgary. Happy is

also a certified shiatsu

practitioner. Happy believes

that people can be happy and

healthy in spaces that embody

the expression of their true

selves. Conjoined with this is

our awareness of self in

relation to the bigger picture,

our environment. Awareness

of our desires of minimizing

environmental impact and

embodied energy are impor-

tant to the decisions we make

as to how to form and detail

our built environment.

SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:40 PM41


have the ability to remember specific user’s set-

tings. We’ve been seeing for a while now that peo-

ple are taking better care of themselves. They are

working out and going to the spa more. Now large

spa bathrooms, home gyms, home theater rooms,

and full sized bars are becoming more popular as

people are taking advantage of convenience in

their homes and creating home retreat areas.

Kurylyk: The “less is more” trend is gearing-

up as we try to attain a reasonable work/life bal-

ance. We are taking on a greener lifestyle with a

focus on the environment and things are going

back to being organic and environmentally

friendly. This is apparent with all the programs

now in place to make Saskatoon green and more

sustainable.

Grove: New and unique design trends will ac-

tually become the traditional way of approach-

ing design in general. Our attention to the green-

ness of our decisions, assessing the collateral

costs of our decisions, weighing the embodied

energy as well as the immediate costs will become

the norm. For example, granite from Italy has

higher embodied energy than granite from

Canada. Design professionals must use these

newer ways of analyzing decisions, and educate

the consumer as much as possible in order to

make healthy decisions.

What room in the house wouldyou say is the focal point of thehouse and why?

Zvacek: The kitchen has always been the heart

of the home, however, we are seeing a slight shift

in the focal point of the home. Instead of the fo-

cal point just being the kitchen it is now on the

main living area, which may include the kitchen,

living and dining rooms. Again going back to the

sense of community, people want to establish es-

pecially in the public areas of their home an open

living concept. I should make a note that though

the sense of community is prevalent in public

spaces of the home, most people are wanting to

make the private areas of their home more inti-

mate. Even in older homes, many people want

to open up these formerly closed in public spaces

to simulate the open feel many of the new homes

are being built with.

Kurylyk: I believe the focal point of your home

could be your kitchen/dining room or maybe it

is your living room/great room. Your focal point

is wherever you want to spend time and enjoy

friends, family and conversation. It is the room

that invites you in and says “Sit down and stay

awhile.” It makes you happy to be there and com-

forts you like no other space in your home.

Grove: There is no one answer to this ques-

tion. In essence, it is the family that determines

the focal point. I always try to explore and un-

derstand these energetic qualities or beliefs, so

as to support the family needs within the design

solutions. For some, the kitchen and dining

rooms are the heart of the home. For some, the

living areas (spaces for conversations, dialogue

SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:40 PM42


and entertaining) are most important. Some peo-

ple emphasize their needs for some open, and

some more individuated spaces. Some clients

love the all in one “great room” idea. Each of

these room descriptions will appeal to some but

not others, so finding out how your client wants

to live, and what they like and dislike about their

existing space, is the first step to determining

what areas become focal points over others.

What is your favourite room in thehouse to design or decorate?

Zvacek: My favorite room in a home to design

is the main living space, consisting of the kitchen,

living and dining rooms. I love the fact that this

area of the home can showcase many architec-

tural details, such as a fireplace, volume changes,

cabinet arrangements and style, an island, and

various levels of lighting. This area often receives

a bit more attention and is a great investment for

resale.

Kurylyk: That’s a tough question! When I am

designing a room, I have a vision on how I want

it to look after we have had our consultations and

made the decisions on how we want to run with

it. When it transforms into a reality, I find the

finished product so gratifying. It usually starts

off by using something that you absolutely love

and working on from there. It is always nice to

have a piece that is meaningful to the client. I

also like to add a little sparkle, something that

pops and says “WOW.” If it is the bedroom I am

designing, I like to create a romantic, cozy, relax-

ing space, a room where you can relax your cares

away in your own personal oasis. When design-

ing the living room/great room, I want it to be a

comfortably elegant place to gather, entertain and

have conversation and also connect the family

unit.

Grove: The powder room. It’s a stand alone

room, and can have a really strong personality.

Guests see it, and that equals an opportunity to

do something fun. Family use it regularly. Again,

a small area to do something fantastic in, make it

a treat! It’s a small area, so there’s the ability to

use more special or different finishes.

What are some of your favouritestyles of interior design or furnish-ing?

Zvacek: I love working with all styles and work-

ing with the client to determine their personal

style and creating a space and environment

around each person’s unique style. However, my

personal style is a mix of contemporary with

some light traditional elements. Some of the ele-

ments I personally enjoy are: interior stone, warm

inviting tones, raw exposed materials, clean lines

and the use of texture and shades as opposed to

many different colours. I love bringing nature

into the space and creating a floor plan that has

an open concept public space, while creating a

very intimate private space.

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Kurylyk: Some of my favourite styles are the

20th century styles of Bauhaus. It is sometimes

referred to as minimalism – less is more. The

Bauhaus concept was born in the early years of

the century and did not explode into interna-

tional prominence until after World War I. It was

a time for new ideas. A time for change that is

simple yet functional.

I also quite enjoy Italian Modern which is a

union of Bauhaus and Art Deco. It is very con-

temporary with a high style factor. I was very for-

tunate to visit Italy last year to see the most amaz-

ing architectural buildings and furnishings. You

really are awe struck when you experience the

amazing wonders of Rome, Pompei,

Sorrento, Milan, and the numerous other cities

and villages of Italy.

Another of my favourites is Louis XVI with

its simple straight lines to glam things up a bit. I

love adding a little sparkle, something that’s

unique and has that ‘wow’ factor. This could be

the use of a chandelier or lamps that have the look

of chandeliers. I have also used a product called

Shimmer Screen that is always a conversation

piece. I love hearing, “Where on earth did you

find that?” We have many great interior design

stores in our vibrant city and are very fortunate

to have such great and unique selections.

Grove: Marie Helene de Rothschild once said

something like: Literal reproduction of periods

or styles is unimaginative, and only mimicry. It is

through the reinterpretation of periods or styles

that creates unique exciting and new expressions.

This may be especially true within the use of

colour. For example: Spanish style architecture

is fine in any location, as long as it reflects the

homeowner’s dreams and aspirations. Yet pink

and other soft pastel stucco are out of place in

some locales. Earthy and warm colours look

much more inviting and appropriate here in

Saskatoon than soft pinks and oranges.

I’m an eclectic when it comes to furniture

styles, I love good design, and pleasing lines, I

love Beidermeier antique furniture as much as

mid century modern. I love to introduce some-

thing unexpected. For example, in my library,

filled with old books and an old oak desk, quite

Dickensian, I introduced a Charles Eames leather

and aluminum desk chair. Each unique element

gives clarity and focus to all.

Are some colour schemes, wallmaterials and flooring more suit-able to Saskatoon’s interior spacesthan other colours and materials?

Zvacek: Fortunately, or unfortunately depend-

ing on how you look at it, Saskatoon is in the

winter season for five to six months of the year.

A great option especially in Saskatoon’s winter

months is adding heated floors, especially in ar-

eas such as in your entry and bathroom, to en-

sure your toes stay warm. Because of Saskatoon’s

winter season, having a cool colour scheme may

leave the space feeling cold and not as inviting

especially in the winter months. However, if a

cool colour scheme is what you love, consider

adding a couple of slashes of warm color

throughout your space.

When choosing hardwood flooring, and es-

pecially when selecting exotic flooring, be con-

scious about the humidity levels in your home.

Ensure to ask your flooring professional about

how the specific flooring you are considering will

withstand our winter season and your home’s

specific humidity levels.

Kurylyk: Our colour schemes tend to be more

subdued and neutral, although there is nothing

wrong with adding a punch of colour to create

interest and spark conversation. In general, we do

not see the same colour schemes in Saskatoon that

are applied in Mexico. As far as wall materials it is

generally drywall since plastered walls are very

costly. Wallpaper has resurfaced and is making a

dramatic comeback. The newest wallpaper trends

emphasize sophisticated patterns. Wall decals can

add interest to walls as well and if you want to

make a focal point, why not add ceramic tile or

brick to a wall? Suitable flooring in Saskatoon can

vary from using tile, vinyl, hardwoods, carpeting,

even leather. The choices are endless and varied

and should not only reflect personal style, but also

take into account the practicality of some prod-

ucts in certain rooms of your home.

Grove: Materials must be carefully selected to

meet the functional needs, and things that work

well in some locales don’t translate well to oth-

ers. For example, bamboo flooring is a great new

alternate to wood products. The material itself

is fast growing, durable and cost effective, yet here

in Saskatoon our humidity levels fluctuate

throughout the year, and this causes expansion

and shrinking of this product when installed on

the floor. The key to success is to offer your cli-

ent material choices (and discuss the functional-

ity of each choice) that will stand up to the task

at hand, as well as the “new thing.”

What are some of the most“green” or sustainable things aperson could do to enhance theirhome?

Zvacek: It has been said that your windows

and doors are the biggest culprits for heat loss in

your home. Therefore, selecting the proper win-

dows and doors will help save on your heating

bill and make your home a bit greener. As well,

when considering purchasing new appliances,

furnace or hot water heater, ensure you are se-

lecting products that are Energy Star or better.

Installing a programmable thermostat that auto-

matically turns down the temperature at night

and back up in the morning will take one extra

thing off your mind when trying to reduce your

energy consumption.

Adding a motion sensor faucet to your bath-

rooms will ensure water is only being used when

it needs to be and doesn’t run while you’re brush-

ing your teeth, for example. Adding dual flush

toilets and shower heads that add high-pressure

air to your shower water all assist in reducing

water consumption.

But, the quickest and cheapest way to make

your home “greener” is changing all your home’s

light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, as they

use 1/3 less power and last 10 times as long as a

regular bulb.

Kurylyk: There is an abundance of green items

such as: using a Energy Star appliances and fur-

nace, R50 insulation in the attic along with

SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:40 PM44


weather stripping, solar hot water systems, low

flush toilets, programmable thermostats, recy-

cling and compost. Use green environmentally

friendly household products, non-toxic paints;

and energy-efficient bulbs to name a few. A good

portion of the green ideas offer rebates or GST

exemption through the Saskatchewan govern-

ment and SaskEnergy.

Grove: Awareness first. Again, no easy an-

swer after ... Be aware of what you are bring-

ing into your home. This goes for daily/weekly

items as well as the bigger, perhaps one time

purchases. The first thing for any client to de-

termine is what their own desires are in this

area. If awareness and desire are great, we

might see them already using the least harm-

ful cleaning supplies (vinegar and water, and

baking soda for abrasive needs will pretty

much do everything). Imagine all those pretty

bottles of colourful liquids in the cleaning isle

of the grocery store – they all eventually end

up down the drain and into our water system.

Watch out about the new energy efficient fluo-

rescent light bulbs, as they contain mercury.

The city will accept these with their other toxic

material pick-ups. However, the dump has no

facility to dispose of these currently. Their

policy is to include this in the regular refuse.

The dump is right beside the river folks, and

it is truly up to us to take affirmative action to

ensure no mercury goes there.

Try to select finishes made from natural mate-

rials, locally produced wherever possible. For

example, I was discussing flooring for a lower

level concrete floor. We narrowed it down to a

laminate flooring or Marmoleum. Each had a

similar cost, each had its own unique look. We

discussed the environmental impact of the manu-

facture of each and that’s where the answer lay.

In the past we talked about “cradle to grave” life

attributes of materials or finishes. The cradle is

the earth, and the grave being the dump. Now

we talk about cradle to cradle attributes, which

then includes what happens after the carpet goes

to the dump.

At each juncture where replacing something

worn out or getting something new, it is up to

each of us to practice out intelligence, to select

things for their green attributes versus their sex

appeal. There are excellent paint products that

are eco-friendly. Think of cleaning your

brushes…where do you do that…what happens

to the water? When the old ones go, select en-

ergy efficient appliances-choose to have less elec-

trical appliances. Insulation, windows and doors

are a focal point for energy savings. Furniture

manufacturers are sometimes taking a steward-

ship role by growing their own woods for frames.

Cottons and other fabrics are now manufactured

in more ecologically sensitive ways, less bleach,

etc. Every time you replace something get in-

formed, and select the best, most efficient solu-

tion you are willing to afford. Each small step

adds up. The idea is to use less, to be satisfied

with efficiency versus “bling.”

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s p o t l i g h t

Post and BeamPalace

Octagon Log Homewith Wrap-Around

Country Views

It might be the bright red roofthat first catches everyone’seye, but it’s the building underit that’s turning heads.

When Stephen and DenyseKlette first began building their

house in Silverado Estates, offHighway 11, 17 km south ofSaskatoon, the sight of the oc-tagonal post-and-beam struc-ture rising out of the prairielandscape drew quite a bit of at-tention. It would have been animpressive sight, even from thehighway, but up close and beforeany walls were erected, the tallcedar posts tapering upwardsfrom the roots looked like a

newly-formed forest sproutingfor the sky. No wonder the cou-ple was constantly shooing awaycurious trespassers.

“We both have always lovedthe look and feel of a logs,” saysDenyse, a Saskatoon-born artist.“Also, we didn’t want to build acity house in the country. Weloved the octagon and openfloor plan.”

“The huge windows every-

where will allow us to enjoy thescenery all around the house. Somany house designs are built forcity homes, where there are onlywindows on the front and theback of the house.”

This octagonal post and beam housewith the bright red roof attracts a lot ofattention from people passing by onthe Regina highway 17 km south ofSaskatoon. Denyse and Stephen Klettehave been lovingly working on thishome for more than a year.

SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:40 PM47


The home is based on anaward-winning full log homedesigned by RCM CAD DesignDrafting Ltd., an architecturaltimber frame and log home de-sign business based inAbbotsford, B.C. Fabricationand assembly of the compo-nents were done by CascadeHandcrafted Log Homes ofChilliwack, B.C. The red cedarposts and Douglas fir beams,weighing 40,000 pounds alto-gether, were brought out fromB.C.

“We asked RCM if it was pos-sible to change it to a post-and-beam with minor floor plan

changes,” says Denyse. “Withindays, they changed it and Cyrilalso found a log builder, DanCoulter and Markus Dehaas,owners of Cascade HandcraftedLog Homes. They were reliableto work with and able to squeezeit into our time frame. Everyonefrom RCM and Cascade wereincredible to work with.”

For all their charm, style andstrength, post-and-beam build-ings are rare in Saskatchewan.Builders and contractors withthe knowledge and expertise tobuild this type of house are fewand far between. The Klettesfound that they had to develop

the skill themselves. The expe-rience has helped Stephen ex-pand his electrical contractingbusiness into home building,specializing in post-and-beamconstruction.

It’s been a year since Stephenand Denyse, started construc-tion. They expect the house willbe ready to move into beforeChristmas.

Left: A large British Columbia red cedarpost rises through the centre of thepost and beam house.

Top: During early stages ofconstruction, before the exterior wallswere put in place, the tapered redcedar posts looked as if a forest hadbegun sprouting out of the prairie.Photo by Chelsea Klette.

SkHomeWin08.p65 11/17/08, 4:40 PM48


r e v i e wWillingdon PlaceHistoric Cul-De-SacHas Character and

Charm

Stuck in rush hour traffic onIdylwyld Drive, it’s easy tomiss a unique slice of Saska-toon’s history. WillingdonPlace comprises a dozen periodhomes surrounding a shortboulevard tucked among thetrees abutting the east side of thegrounds of Caswell School.This tiny street is a quiet enclavethat stands out for its unusualcharacter, even within a pictur-esque neighbourhood likeCaswell Hill. The only way in orout is from Idylwyld, and onlyfrom the southbound lanes ofthat busy thoroughfare. It’s ashort two-block walk fromAshworth-Holmes Park, thegreen space that most peopleassociate as the centre ofCaswell Hill.

On the whole, the mere men-tion of Caswell Hill invokes vi-sions of the wide boulevardsthat pass through the neigh-bourhood. Along with the beau-tiful heritage homes andchurches, the heavily treedstreets set the tone for the char-acter and charm that everyoneassociates with the area. Al-though few people have had theopportunity to see it first hand,

the cul-de-sac in WillingdonPlace is among the most beauti-ful boulevards in the city.

In fact, the short street pro-vides a unique example of thefirst crescent-shaped develop-ment in Saskatoon. The 12houses on Willingdon Placewere designed by local architectFrank P. Martin and completedin 1927 and 1928, some 22years after the Caswell Hill sub-division was established. Eachis a prime example of the Artsand Crafts Movement that waspopular in Canada in the 1920sand 1930s. At the time of con-struction, the homes were

placed on the market for $6,350to $7,000 each ($79,850 to$88,000 in 2008 dollars).

The Caswell Hill Local AreaPlan notes that residents have astrong desire to maintain the

character of the housing withinthe neighbourhood. They areconcerned with infill develop-ment being constructed thatdoes not respect the character ofthe housing that already exists.

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Harmony andBalance

What makes a feel-good home feel good

We all want our homes to feelcomfortable, a place where wecan relax and truly enjoy thespace we live in. Increasingly,this also extends to homes thatare healthier for us and the en-vironment.

“Homes that impart the indi-vidual senses spontaneouslywithout consciousness of ef-fort,” is how senior designer,Tammy Thorson-Manchurwith Symphony Group of Com-panies describes this feel-goodfactor of design.

“Remember a time when youwalked into a home, or thresh-old of a home, and how it cre-ated a memory,” she says. “Youeither liked it or disliked it.”

Homeowners may not knowa bad layout design but they willknow when something doesn’tquite feel right. Maybe the de-sign is stifling relationships in-side the home or impeding ac-cessibility with badly placeddoorways or stairways.

“Design layout and how itfunctions is very important tothe harmony and balance in ahome,” says Thorson-Manchur.“Is there enough storage? Isthere enough light? Are the

placement of the walls too re-strictive?”

To help facilitate a client’sneeds, she develops a relation-ship with them to gain a senseof what they want.

By way of finding out moreabout them, Thorson-Manchursays she has clients do somehomework by having them cre-ate a memory board or clippingcollage in order for them to or-ganize their thoughts.

“I find this so helpful, as of-ten I can pinpoint one thing thatis consistent in all the picturesthat shares a lot about the client,even though the client may notvocalize it.”

Design techniques can makehomes feel inviting and cozy,flow logically from one room tothe next and move effortlesslyfrom indoors to out. This couldmean designing more openspaces to create a feeling of spa-ciousness. Or, perhaps a placeto relax with reading chairs inbedrooms or artwork placementthat creates a stimulating envi-ronment.

Colour also provides an op-tion to creating the feel-goodfactor of a home. Paints, walltextures and utilizing the sunand natural environment giveschoice for enhancing comfort.

Homeowners looking for sus-tainable housing and reducing

the impact on the environmentcan also live healthier liveswithin their homes. Options forpurchasing eco-friendly furni-ture, flooring and carpeting are

s t a n d a r d sbecoming more prolific. Thereare more homes built with non-allergic materials and greateremphasis on natural lightingand heating.

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s U p p l i e r sThe EvolvedBathroom

Now Eco-friendly“Rest” Rooms

When I was six, my father tacked

up what he thought was a very

funny sign on the bathroom door.

It was a picture of an old woman,

who alarmingly resembled the

Quaker Oats man. In a bubble over

her head, she barked, “Rest room?

Hell, I ain’t tired. Where’s the can?”

A) I didn’t get it, and B) I avoided

the bathroom for as long as I could.

Under her glare, it was not a relax-

ing place to be. But now, all that’s

changing.

In fact, the scary–or at least dull–

old bathroom is becoming “a spa

with an eco twist,” according to

Gord Bethel, owner of The Plumb

Shoppe. “It’s not just a tub, a sink

and a toilet anymore.” Turning the

utilitarian bathroom into a home

spa with a steam shower and a mas-

sage tub–creating an environment–is part of transforming the old loo

into a destination, not just a whis-

tle stop.

It has to do with “cocooning,”

says Bethel. In recent years, people

are staying in more, watching mov-

ies, working out in home gyms, he

says. People want the pampering

and relaxation of a home spa, but

there’s also an element of respon-

sibility that reflects current earth

stewardship concerns.

“With all the green messages,

eco-friendly this and carbon tax

that,” says Bethel, “we’ve seen a

definite increase in concern by our

customers who want faucets and

toilets that use less water.”

His company has long been

moving in that direction. Research-

ing eco-friendly products is impor-

tant, he insists. An alleged “water-

friendly” toilet that needs to be

flushed twice isn’t saving water or

money. Quality products that work

properly and last are key.

Combined with a strong trend

toward European design (white,

squarish and contemporary lines)

and a desire for beautiful fixtures,

is the customer demand for water

conservation. Leah, a showroom

consultant with Gregg’s Plumbing

and Heating, points to a commit-

ment to “reduce water consump-

tion without compromising the

water experience.” Customers

renovating or building new are

more interested than ever before in

the Water Sense status of bathroom

fixtures which can save an average

household 30 per cent of water, or

up to 30,000 gallons a year.

“Today, people do want the spa

experience at home,” Leah says.

“They’ve traveled to Europe, to

Asia; they want that very clean, con-

temporary look. They also want at

least the guest half bath to be a

showpiece. Vessel sinks have an ar-

tistic influence; the bowl design in

glass, for example, can be an excep-

tional piece of art.”

There’s a knack to getting the

spa look down. While stainless steel

is great in the kitchen, polished

chrome reflects the European trend

in the bathroom. “And bathroom

faucets are like jewelry,” Leah notes.

“They should all be the same.

Don’t mix and match.”

Leah says the feng shui influence

has crept its way into the bathroom

and customers are opting for less

cluttered, more open spaces. Ther-

mostatic showers, double adjust-

able showerheads, and channel

bath fillers instead of the noisy old

aerated pressure stream are all ele-

ments of the new “silent and sooth-

ing” bathroom environment.

■ karin melberg schwier

The DetailsThe Plumb ShoppeGord Bethel2225-B Avenue C North,Saskatoon, SK S7L 5Z2T: 306.249.4000F: 306.249.3391E: [email protected]: www.plumbshoppe.comGregg’s Plumbing &HeatingJim Gregg503 51st Street East, Saskatoon,SK S7K 6V4T: 306.373.4664F: 306.242.7808E: [email protected]: www.greggs.ca

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t h e R o o mSuper Garage

IdeasTurn your garage intoa space you can be

proud of.

It used to be the garage was acold, impersonal place for thefamily car plus whatever elsecould be crammed along thesides. For some of us, there’s somuch stuff in there, there’s noplace left to put the car!

Not only that, but these days,with most garages attached tothe house, there’s a real need tostore and organize all the tools,accessories and substances thatwe use to keep our homes func-tioning smoothly.

Fortunately, there are plentyof ways to tame that clutter,whether it’s just a few things thatyou regularly trip over on yourway in and out, or the kind ofmess that threatens to force thecar out onto the street.

If it’s only a matter of getting

things up off the floor, a goodplace to start is by adding hooks,shelves and baskets to the wallsor ceiling. Most people are al-ready familiar with hooks thatthey might use to hang the gar-den rake or snow shovel, butspecialized versions are avail-able to take your golf bag, bicy-cle or canoe. Some of these sys-tems include elaborate mecha-nisms for raising and loweringthe heavier items you need tostore. Shelving is simple to in-stall and makes for an easy andquick solution. Wire shelving

and baskets are perfect for ir-regular items that would fall orroll off of wood or melamineshelves. They’re great for bootsand shoes, for instance. En-closed baskets can take care ofthe small, loose items like thatgarden hose nozzle that youkeep misplacing.

Modular workbenches installquickly and adapt to your avail-able space. Steel frames toppedwith hardwood work surfacesprovide sturdy support. Com-monly available in six and eightfoot sections that dock together,

they’ll turn a corner into a func-tional work area, as well as fill awall longer than your car. Need alittle more organization, somestorage for hand or power tools?Install steel cabinets or drawers.Cabinetry is available with strongcastors, so you can wheel your

Geneva Garage Gear modular storagecomponents, by GenevaManufacturing Company, are availablefrom Garage Boyz in Saskatoon. Thetop row of cabinetry uses Geneva'stwo or three shelf 19-inch and 30-inchwall cabinets (from $195, with doors)and shelf units (from $110, withoutdoors), with recessed pull handles andcontinuous reinforced piano hinges.Sports gear and storage lockers (from$449) feature 32,400 cubic inches ofcapacity within their five-foot heights.Base cabinets (from $449) and drawerunits (from $569) fit convenientlyunder the modular workbench.Workbenches (from $569) come in sixor eight foot lengths, topped by a 24inch by 1-1/2 inch thick butcher blockstyle top with radius edge treatmenttand finished in clear lacquer forchemical resistance. Metal parts arewelded construction, protected byelectrostatically powder coatedfinishes. Lockers and base cabinets rideon heavy duty swivel casters forincreased mobility. Locking frontcasters keep the cabinets in place.Available in red or Mohave.

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tools to where you need to usethem. Finish the workbench witha durable back splash. Most backsplashes are designed to acceptaccessories for hanging toolswithin easy reach, and many comewith integrated electrical outlets.

For intense organization, steelwall cabinets and lockers addvoluminous, secure storage tothe garage. Wall storage cabinetsgo up in jiffy and get rid ofwasted space on the wall tomaximize storage capacity.They can be mounted abovework benches, much the sameway as the cabinets over yourkitchen countertops, or on theirown grouped and stacked to-gether with other storage.

With the walls looking sogood, it’s hard to put up with

that same old bare concretefloor. There are a variety offlooring materials that not onlymake the space look better, butalso improve safety with their

textured, non-slip, stain-resist-ant surfaces.

If it isn’t enough to be able toget your smaller items out of theway, there are portable lifts that

enable you to stack your ATVs,snowmobiles and even yourcars. The sky’s the limit. Well,actually, your ceiling’s the limit,but you get the idea.

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DevelopersInvited to

RehabilitateMcNab Park

Duplexes

The City of Saskatoon has en-tered into a partnership withInnovative Residential Inc. todetermine if the existing du-plex housing stock of McNabPark can be reused as afford-able housing. This project willalso demonstrate that theduplexes can be moved and re-used in different locationswithin Saskatoon. The Citywould like to encourage hous-ing developers to undertake therehabilitation of the remaininghousing units in McNab Park.

The Demonstration Project isintended to demonstrate thatthe dwellings can be renovatedto accomplish three main objec-tives: meet all health and safetycode requirements; be made at-tractive to blend into existingresidential areas; and remain af-fordable to people seeking anentry-level dwelling.

The McNab Park area con-tains 162 existing dwelling unitscomprised mainly of two-unitand multiple-unit dwellings.The dwellings were constructedin 1952 by the federal govern-ment for Royal Canadian AirForce personnel training at the

t h e c i t yroom with modern facilities. In-terior insulation has been up-graded and drywall repairedand painted. Electrical, plumb-ing and building codes havebeen addressed, existing fea-tures refurbished where possi-ble and all negative appearanceissues addressed.

All of the information gath-ered during the demonstrationproject will be compiled in a re-port and presented to CityCouncil and made available tothe public.

airport. Up to 106 of the dwell-ing units are considered to be inmovable condition and offer theopportunity for the re-use of theexisting housing stock in newlocations. Sixty of these units arebeing moved by InnovativeResidential to sites in Confed-eration Suburban Centre wherethey will be renovated and of-fered as entry-level housing.

If successful, this projectcould generate the creation ofup to 46 additional rehabilitatedhousing units available to resi-dents within the income guide-lines for provincial affordablehousing. These units would beavailable for placement through-out the city, providing up-graded, safe, and affordablehousing units within existingresidential areas.

Innovative Residential Inc. isacting as project manager of theMcNab Park Affordable Hous-ing Demonstration, and has un-dertaken upgrades to the Dem-

onstration Project. They haveinstalled new siding, roofing, ex-terior insulation, energy-effi-cient doors, and windows andreplaced the kitchen and wash-

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d i r e c t o r y--------------------------------------------Appliances--------------------------------------------Esterbrook Appliances2835A Cleveland AveSaskatoon SK S7K 8G1T: 306.931.6166122 – 3126 Clarence Ave SSaskatoon SK S7T 0C9T: 306.384.2252W: www.esterbrook.ca--------------------------------------------Appraisers--------------------------------------------Dream Home AppraisalBrian Lucyshyn1308 8th St E, Saskatoon, SK S7H 0S8T: 306.934.4455F: 306.934.4425E: [email protected]: www.dhasask.com--------------------------------------------Architectural Design &Drafting--------------------------------------------CADvantage DesignDoug Schmidt103 3718 Kinnear PlaceSaskatoon, SK S7H 0S5T: 306.373.3805F: 306.373.3806E: [email protected]: www.cadvantagedesign.com--------------------------------------------Auto Dealerships--------------------------------------------Bridge City AutoRob Pellegrini2100A Millar AveSaskatoon, SK S7K 6P4T: 306.652.8800F: 306.652.6800E: [email protected]: www.bridgecityauto.com--------------------------------------------Barristers & Solicitors--------------------------------------------TKB LawTravis Beauchemin622 Duchess StSaskatoon, SK S7K 0R1T: 306.978.3385F: 306.975.3386E: [email protected]: www.tkblaw.ca--------------------------------------------Builders--------------------------------------------Aspen West Inc.Michelle Kurylyk#1-510 48th St ESaskatoon, SK S7K 5T9T: 306.384.2734F: 306.384.2737E: [email protected]

--------------------------------------------Builders--------------------------------------------Homes by DundeeMarty Lewis300 2100 8th St ESaskatoon, SK S7H 0V1T: 306.374.6100F: 306.955.7673E: [email protected]: www.homesbydundee.com--------------------------------------------Business Associations--------------------------------------------Saskatoon Regional EconomicDevelopment AuthorityAlan Migneault#103-202 4th Ave NSaskatoon, SK S7K 7S3T: 306.664.0723F: 306.244.5033E: [email protected]: www.sreda.com--------------------------------------------The PartnershipTerry Scaddan, Executive Director242 3rd Ave SSaskatoon, SK S7K 1L9T: 306.665.2001E: [email protected]: www.downtownsaskatoon.com--------------------------------------------Tourism SaskatoonJoAnne Wasko, Director#101-202 4th Ave NSaskatoon, SK S7K 0K1T: 306.242.1206F: 306.242.1955E: [email protected]: www.tourismsaskatoon.com--------------------------------------------Cabinets--------------------------------------------Classic WoodcraftCarmen or Barb618 Cynthia St.Saskatoon, SK S7L 6A2T: 306.244.7224F: 306.244.7553E: general.inquiries@ classicwoodcraft.comW: www.classicwoodcraft.com--------------------------------------------T-Square CabinetsHarold HeinrichSaskatoon, SKT: 306.477.4777E: tsquare@sasktel.net--------------------------------------------Casino--------------------------------------------Dakota Dunes CasinoSite 501, Box 71, RR#5Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J8T: 306.667.6400F: 306.667.6426W: www.siga.sk.ca

--------------------------------------------Developers--------------------------------------------Lake Placid DevelopmentsDevon HenryBay #4-12110 40th St SECalgary, AB T2Z 4K6T: 403.539.6296F: 403.539.4337E: [email protected]: www.lpdi.ca--------------------------------------------Meridian DevelopmentDeb Kuzek524 2nd Ave NSaskatoon, SK S7K 2C5T: 306.384.0431F: 306.933.4121E: [email protected]: www.meridiandevelopment.ca--------------------------------------------Education--------------------------------------------Universal Career CollegeKara Howarth1202A Quebec AveSaskatoon, SK S7K 1V2T: 306.373.8700E: [email protected]: www.uccsaskatoon.ca--------------------------------------------Financial Institution--------------------------------------------Affinity Credit Union201 309 22nd St ESaskatoon, SK S7K 0G7T: 306.934.4000E: [email protected]: www.affinitycu.ca--------------------------------------------Flooring--------------------------------------------Braid Flooring & WindowFashionsChristian Braid#1 2301 Millar AveSaskatoon, SK S7K 2Y1T: 306.244.1973F: 306.244.2727W: www.braidflooring.com--------------------------------------------End of the Roll FlooringAmy Irwin, Kevin Cone, AmandaKlassen, Leah Buttinger, Carmen Baines#74 33rd St ESaskatoon, SK S7K 0R9T: 306.686.3600F: 306.683.2646E: [email protected]: www.endoftheroll.com

--------------------------------------------Health Food Products--------------------------------------------XocaiTracy FriesenSaskatoon, SKT: 306.978.9829E: [email protected]: www.successbyhealthychocolate.com--------------------------------------------Home Decor--------------------------------------------Esteem for the Home Decorand GalleryKris KershawCollege Park Mall McKercher & 8th106B-3929 8th St ESaskatoon, SK S7H 5M2T: 306.477.2833E: [email protected]: www.esteemforthehome.com--------------------------------------------Laser ImpressionsDavid Zolinsky#4-1540 Alberta AveSaskatoon, SK S7K 7C9T: 306.978.7760F: 306.978.7761E: [email protected]: www.laserimpressions.ca--------------------------------------------Insulated Concrete Forms--------------------------------------------Solid CORE HomesRenee Reimer HornerBox 429Aberdeen, SK S0K 0A0T: 306.253.4657E: [email protected]: www.solidcorehomes.ca--------------------------------------------Logix Insulated ConcreteFormsFred Friesen601 Centennial DrMartensville, SK S0K 2T0T: 306.242.3121F: 306.242.5935W: www.logixicf.com--------------------------------------------Interior Designers--------------------------------------------Studio 2.0 Interior DesignConsultantsCrystal Zvacek418 Pobran CourtSaskatoon, SK S7S 1L4T: 306.262.6884F: 306.664.6844E: [email protected]: www.studio2point0.ca

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--------------------------------------------Kitchen & Bath Manufacturers--------------------------------------------Beauty CraftCarlo Triolo1915 Ontario AveSaskatoon, SK S7K 1T5T: 306.978.4281F: 306.978.8177E: [email protected]: www.beautycraft.ca--------------------------------------------Kitchen & Bath Retailers--------------------------------------------Kitchen & Bath Classics649 51st StSaskatoon, SK S7K 7J7T: 306.933.2237W: www.kitchenandbathclassics.ca--------------------------------------------The Plumb ShoppeGord Bethel2225B Ave C N,Saskatoon, SK S7L 5Z2T: 306.249.3391E: [email protected]: www.plumbshoppe.com--------------------------------------------Landscapers--------------------------------------------Sawyer's Trees & LandscapesNorm Altrogge142-105th St E, Saskatoon, SK S7N1Z3T: 306.244.8906F: 306.244.8908E: [email protected]: www.sawyers.ca

--------------------------------------------Marketing & Design--------------------------------------------deezineDaren & Tamilia McLean1639 2nd Ave NSaskatoon, SKT: 306.343.9320E: [email protected]: www.deezine.ca--------------------------------------------Property Investment--------------------------------------------Mondovi PropertyDevelopmentSusan ZwarychBox 21105Saskatoon, SK S7H 5N9T: 306.270.3807E: [email protected]: www.mondovidevelopments.com--------------------------------------------Realtors--------------------------------------------Coldwell Banker/RescomRealtyAlisa Latoski336 105th St ESaskatoon, SK S7N 1Z3T: 306.652.2882F: 306.652.0929E: [email protected]: www.coldwellbankersaskatoon.com

--------------------------------------------RemaxGregg Bamford, Ryan Bamford, KevinBamford250 1820 8th St ESaskatoon, SK S7H 0T6T: 306.242.6000F: 306.956.3356W: www.saskatoonresidential.com

--------------------------------------------Renovators--------------------------------------------J.A.B.A. ConstructionDave Anderchek#9 100 7th Ave NSaskatoon, SK S7K 2V9T: 306.384.9288F: 306.384.9289E: [email protected]: www.jaba.ca--------------------------------------------Restaurant--------------------------------------------Beily'sJeff Ledding2404 8th St ESaskatoon, SK S7H 0V6T: 306.374.3344W: www.beilys.ca--------------------------------------------Service Provider--------------------------------------------Shaw CablesystemsQuality Stone is a lightweight,installer friendly stone siding productideal for renovation projects and newconstruction. Quality Stone is the bestlooking product of its kind on themarket today.2326 Hanselman AveSaskatoon, SK S7L 5Z3T: 306.664.2121F: 306.244.0105E: [email protected]: www.shaw.ca

--------------------------------------------Specialty Cakes--------------------------------------------Cakes G'loreGloria Chatelaine210 33rd St WSaskatoon, SKT: 306.373.CAKEW: www.cakesglore.com--------------------------------------------Stone ProductManufacturers--------------------------------------------In Stone Distribution

Quality Stone is a lightweight,installer friendly stone siding productideal for renovation projects and newconstruction. Quality Stone is the bestlooking product of its kind on themarket today.Dustin WilsonSaskatchewan, Alberta, BCT: 1.877.477.4373F: 1.780.488.2922E: [email protected]: www.qualitystoneproducts.com--------------------------------------------Storage Solutions--------------------------------------------Garage BoyzCarlo Triolo1915 Ontario AveSaskatoon, SK S7K 1T5T: 306.978.4281F: 306.978.8177E: [email protected]: www.garageboyz.ca--------------------------------------------Warranty--------------------------------------------Saskatchewan New HomeWarrantyGlenn Silliphant#4 3012 Louise St ESaskatoon, SK S7J 3L8T: 306.373.7833F: 306.373.7977E: [email protected]: www.nhwp.org--------------------------------------------Wine Conniseurs & Retail--------------------------------------------Cava Secreta Wines & SpiritsCameron Rizos#103 120 Sonnenschein PlSaskatoon, SK S7M 1M8T: 306.664.CAVAF: 306.931.7123E: [email protected]: www.cavasecreta.com

Contact Krystal atMondovi Publishingat 665.9160 about

listing your businessin the SaskatoonHome Directory.

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B a c k w o r d sWhen the Stuff ofLife Becomes the

Art of Wow

I’ve done plenty of thinkingabout interior design in thelast 2-1/2 years as I continueto work my way through whatfeels like an endless series ofrenovations to a 25-year-oldtownhouse. Although therehave been frustrations and com-promises along the way, I’ve alsothe discovered the satisfactionsof using lots of power tools,learning new skills and exercis-ing a personal design aestheticon a limited budget.

It’s taken me a while to getcomfortable with my designedself. It’s a life’s worth of accumu-lated experience. I don’t knowwhat to call it, but it leans towardthe modern and the minimalist.It hates clutter. It loves textures,natural materials and shots ofbright colour, hues which arenow so etched into my imagina-tion that I can spot my own par-ticular shade of orange across astore without referring to aswatch. It steers me toward well-designed, lean, practical objectswhich can change their shape,move around and fulfill morethan one function. It has an in-tensity which makes the new-comers to my home noticethings and ask “what’s that over

there?” It also has a rapaciousappetite for HGTV and high-end design magazines.

As a thoroughly post-modernhome renovator, I am acutelyaware of our economy’s de-pendence on constant con-sumption. Consumption hasbecome a way to not only fill ouremptiness, but also to give our-selves an identity. We are in-creasingly defined by what webuy. And in a world constructedby advertising, according tomedia critic Leslie Savan, we areliving a sponsored life. Oursponsors are the companies

which have provided their prod-uct placements in our homesand our activities. Our own per-sonal experiences are being soldback to us, reconstituted withcommercial messages and val-ues.

It’s a rather dour perspective,you might be thinking. But oneneed look no further than thestack of magazines on my livingroom floor (still awaiting its newlaminate) to find examples ofhow the purchasing the rightproduct will signify, to someonewho understands the vocabu-lary, that the buyer is one smart

and savvy cookie.Your choice of tableware is

“simply a matter of taste.” A par-ticular shade of paint is “the col-our of confidence.” Bathroomfixtures provide “Prestige. Per-formance. Perfection.” Your fur-niture allows “living in the spiritof the moment.” Your kitchenappliances are “the art of wow.”And your kitchen becomes astage where “you can freeze amoment in your mind, lock ataste in your heart and hold asmile forever.”

This is pretty compellingstuff. Who wouldn’t want to betasteful, confident, perfect andliving in the spirit of the mo-ment? Why buy a mere dish-washer when you can buy the artof wow? And even if you don’tcook, a kitchen in which poeticmoments happen would prob-ably be a good thing, especiallywhen it comes to resale.

But whose decision is it, afterall, when it comes to the lookand feel of our personal spaces?Do we surrender to the pro-gramming and perpetual shop-ping, or, in the other extreme,avoid the whole scenario by liv-ing in a frayed domestic timewarp where change or improve-ment never happens? How canwe turn down the volume on thecommercial messages and findour way back to a personal aes-

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part illusion. The once-a-monthchef may demand a professionalkitchen, but daily practical con-cerns will dictate otherwise. So,designers expect us as their cli-ents to be both students of, andparticipants in, a collaborativeprocess. We need to be suffi-ciently self-aware to make gooddecisions. We also need to beprepared to reconsider old waysof thinking and doing. And weshould be brutally honest withourselves about what we can af-ford and what we truly need. Ifwe can’t do at least that, thenwe’re not going to get much outof the design process except aninterior destined for its nextoverhaul and a lingering senseof an opportunity missed.

Designers are sometimes frus-trated by the opposing forces ofclient expectations and availablebudget. They are even morefrustrated by clients who surren-der their personal aesthetic tosomeone else’s. A picture froma magazine can be a great start-ing point for trying to explainwhat you mean by “I’d like awarm, welcoming space” but thebest design is still going to comefrom an individual response todeeply personal questions, like,“When you return home after abad day, where in your home doyou go for solace?” Perhaps allof the interior design we’ll everneed is embodied in a comfort-able chair, a window and a goodcup of tea.■ sandra kochan

thetic that more accurately re-flects an authentic, unsponsoredself ? By what standards do weedit the stuff of our lives?

In a world where trends areperpetually shifting and televi-sion personalities are paid to is-sue deceptively witty judgmentsabout what we wear and how welive, it’s not surprising that welack confidence about ourchoices. This is why we needdesigners. They are our media-tors, navigators and negotiatorsin a world of options. As someof the world’s best problem solv-ers, they bring fresh eyes, newideas, raw intuition and a lot ofexperience into the process.They ask us simple questions(which we often struggle to an-swer) about our habits, our life-styles, our likes and dislikes andour budget. They will probablyask why we thought it was agood idea to paint the bathroompurple. And then they will helpus change it.

It’s a rare client (althoughthey do exist) who wholeheart-edly surrenders the decisionsand the budget to the designer.How many of us, for example,give our hairdressers completelyfree rein? We usually providesome instructions, albeit vagueand haphazard ones: a little offthe top but not too short.Household interiors are farmore complex. We all needkitchens, bedrooms and bath-rooms, but our perceptions ofhow we truly use and occupythem may be part reality and

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Documents

Saskatoon HOME Winter 2008