Green change - Home Makeover Magazine

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13Tour homes 

Green 

change 

Open! 

Bedroom to 

bathroom

Ineffi cient windows allow more than just heat to escape. 

Save energy. Regulate temperatures. Reduce condensation. Make your home 

Power Smart and replace your old, inefficient windows with ENERGY STAR ® 

labelled windows. Visit bchydro.com/powersmart for more information. 

ENERGY STAR labelled windows are now PST exempt, saving you more money. 

© Bank of Canada – bank note image used with permission. ENERGY STAR® is administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada. www.bchydro.com

Maybe it’s too comfortable. 

All brands are not created equal and American Standard products are top-rated...again top-rated...again and and again again. again 

Fr Freedom Fr eedom Gas Gas Furnaces Furnaces - - - ‘the ‘the ‘the ‘the ‘the most most most most most tr tr trouble-fr tr trouble-fr 

ouble-fr ouble-free ouble-free 

ee ee ee brand’ brand’ brand’ brand’ brand’ 

Februar ebruar ebruar ebruary ebruary 

y 2005- 2005- In a survey of 36,000 consumers, American 

Standard was rated the most trouble-free brand. 

Heritage Heritage Heat Heat Heat Pumps Pumps - - ‘rated ‘rated ‘rated ‘rated ‘rated mor mor more mor more 

e e e rr 

reliable rr 

eliable eliable eliable eliable brand’ brand’ brand’ brand’ brand’ 

No November No ember 2002- 2002- 2002- In a survey of 500 installers and 35,000 consumers, 

American Standard was one of only two brands named as 

being more reliable than average by a leading consumer product 

testing magazine. 

Allegiance Allegiance Air Air Air Conditioners Conditioners - - ‘most ‘most ‘most ‘most ‘most tr tr trouble-fr tr trouble-fr 

ouble-fr ouble-free ouble-free 

ee ee ee brand’ brand’ brand’ brand’ brand’ 

Ma May Ma y 2001- 2001- American Standard was rated most trouble-free 

heating and cooling brand. 

AccuClean AccuClean Whole Whole Whole House House House Air Air Filtration Filtration System System - 

- 

‘highest ‘highest ‘highest ‘highest ‘highest clean clean clean clean clean air air air air air deliv deliv deliver deliv deliver 

er ery ery 

y y y rating’ rating’ rating’ rating’ rating’ 

Jan Januar Jan uar uary uar y 2005 2005 2005 - - As measured by an independant testing labratory, 

the AccuClean air cleaner removed 99.98% of particles from the 

air, resulting in the highest clean air delivery rating* (CADR). 

* Clean air delivery rate (efficiency @ 0.3 micron x airflow rate) is recognized by the Association of Home 

Appliances, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as a fair and objective measure of various air cleaner technologies. 

All American Standard Heating and Cooling products are distributed by . 

American American Standar Standard Standar d Independent Independent Independent Dealers Dealers Dealers - - - ‘the ‘the ‘the ‘the ‘the best’ best’ best’ best’ best’ 

Okay, so we are not aware of a survey that rates and 

compares independent installers or dealers..but we just think 

very highly of our specially trained dealers and so will you. 

For more information, or to find a dealer near you visit 

www www www.AmericanStandar 

www www.AmericanStandar 

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dAir dAir.com dAir.com. 

.com .com .com In BC, you can also call 

our toll-free number at 1-888-225-3626. 

Quiet 

Reliable 

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Heritage TM 

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FEATURES 

23 Parade of Renovated Homes 

13 homes open June 3 

28 Spirit of Whistler 

Classic Alta Vista chalet remade for a new generation 

36 Lifting experience 

Adding an in-home elevator 

38 Persian carpets 

Author Hadani Ditmars: the myths and magic 

39 Honest Hardwood 

Real hardwood can be manufactured 

41 Barbecue bonanza 

New barbecue products, big burners to electric grills. 

DEPARTMENTS 

8 Hot New Products 

11 Green Changes 

12 Making News 

Elevating a Vancouver Special 

14 What’s in Store 

Main Street 

16 Landscaping 

Easy ways to frame a garden 

18 Bathroom Makeover 

21 Kitchen Makeover 

43 Makeover Money 

46 Trims and Touches 

Cover photo: Kitchen makeover 

by TQ Construction among the highlights of the 

Parade of Renovated Homes, see page 23 

Photo: Raef Grohne/www.ArchitecturalPhotographer.com 

This page: Our fi rst Victoria renovation: 

an unused bedroom is remade into a large and 

luxury bathroom. See page 18 

Photo: JoAnn Richards, Works Photography

KOHLER®, the world’s most innovative and imaginative bathroom brand, can be 

experienced at your nearest showroom. 

KOHLER.com 

Purist® Hatbox Comfort Height toilet with seat and cover in White shown above. 

©2006 Kohler Co. 

Transform conventional notions.

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Pragmatic passion should 

guide your makeover 

Three in four British Columbia 

homeowners are planning to 

redecorate, renovate or repair 

their home over the next two years. Th e 

work will range from adding a new coat 

of paint to building a whole new fl oor or 

a showpiece kitchen. 

Makeovers are seductive and most 

homeowners go in with passion. Even 

the expectation is exhilarating: to follow 

a vision and experience the climax with 

the prized granite and hardwood kitchen, 

the big, new cedar deck crowded 

with friends or the luxury master bedroom 

you both have always dreamed of. 

In this edition, we celebrate that 

passion. Inside, you are literally invited 

into 13 outstanding home renovations in 

Greater Vancouver. We tell you what was 

done and where, and then, on Sunday, 

June 3, you can walk through the homes, 

talk to the professionals who designed 

and completed the work, and come away 

with a vision of your own. We profi le a 

near-decadent Whistler renovation, and 

an awe-inspiring kitchen for a million 

dollar condominium at the University of 

British Columbia. We revel in the massive 

bathroom makeover in a Victoria 

mansion. We share the mystery of 

Persian carpets that can cost more than 

a car, and tell why in-home elevators are, 

for some, the latest luxury upgrade. 

Yet, our unique real estate market 

demands that such passion be tinged 

with pragmatism. 

Th at practical approach to home 

improvement is the focus of our next 

issue, as we present our fi rst annual 

Home Makeover Buyer’s Guide. It will 

be a fascinating companion. 

Coming out each summer, our 

Buyer’s Guide promises to be a mustread, 

keep-handy-year-round tool for 

local home renovations. 

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� How do you fi nd an honest contractor? 

� What renovations will add value? 

� Who will create a blueprint that 

matches your vision? 

� What is a green renovation? And how 

much will it all cost? 

Our experts explain it all, cross-referenced 

with sources and contacts. 

Working closely with the Better 

Business Bureau, professional renovators, 

quality suppliers, fi nancial experts, legal 

professionals and consultants, we present 

a fact-packed annual guide to planning, 

completing and paying for a great 

home makeover. 

Th is edition, share the passion with 

us. Next issue, we tell how to fi nd true 

satisfaction with your own home makeover. 

We own the most expensive homes 

in the most demanding market in the 

country, so renovations here must be 

done right. 

Frank O’Brien 

Editor 

Hmeditor@biv.com 

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Publisher: Gail Clark 

Editor: Frank O’Brien 

Design Director: Randy Pearsall 

Copy Editor: Baila Lazarus 

Writers: Betty Campbell, Hadani Ditmars, 

Baila Lazarus, Dermot Mack, Sylvia Shaw, 

Corey Van’t Haaff 

Production Manager: Don Schuetze 

Production: Carole Readman 

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Sales Co-ordinator: Katherine Butler 

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System Administrator: Jim Bertram 

Director of Circulation: Sue Plamondon 

Controller: Marlita Hodgens 

Operations Manager: Dennis LeBlanc 

President, BIV Media Group: Tom Siba 

Vice-President, BIV Media Group: Peter Ladner 

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Fireplaces to Go 

1150 United Blvd. 

Coquitlam, B.C. 

V3K 6T4 

604-523-3404 

www.qualityfireplaces.com 

Westcoast Hearth & BBQ 

#100 – 3031 Beckman Place 

Richmond, B.C. 

V6X 3R2 

604-248-2255 

mong@westcoasthearth.com 

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6162 East Blvd 

Vancouver, B.C. 

V6M 3V6 

604-261-2525 

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#101 – 2602 Mount Lehman Rd. 

Abbotsford, B.C. 

604-864-9654 

www.westernfireplaces.com 

FL008

HOT 

No-cord cultivator 

At one time, cordless meant gutless, but that thinking changes fast when you dig into 

dirt with the long-tonged new Powered Cultivator from Black and Decker. Powered by 

an 18-volt rechargeable battery, the Cultivator’s counter-oscillating steel tongs can 

turn over four inches of soil across 300 square feet on a single 

charge. It’s cordless, so you can take it anywhere in your 

yard, and its telescoping handle adjusts for different users. 

Come to think of it, it would fit your teenager perfectly. 

Available wherever Black and Decker is sold. 

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Smart house lock 

Burnaby-based Weiser Lock came 

out with a new locking system this 

March–the SmartKey–that eliminates 

“lock bumping” (a method 

that thieves use to break through 

conventional tumbler locks), but also 

allows the cylinder to be rekeyed in 

seconds. You never have to worry about lost 

or stolen keys. You just replace the key, not the 

lock. The cylinder also allows consumers to rekey 

all locks in a home, so that they can operate 

from one key. The SmartKey is available now 

in Weiser stores and at independent retailers. 

Ahhh spring time - 

and new products 

to make it brighter 

and bolder 

Sleek bath 

cabinet 

Kohler keeps coming up 

with good ideas, such as 

this tiny, perfect Leighton 

mirrored bath cabinet for 

the powder room. It is said 

to be an Early Georgian 

design but would flatter 

many Yaletown condos. It is 21 inches wide by 30 inches high and requires 

a recessed installation. The glass shelves are adjustable and the half-inch 

beveled mirror door comes with polished chrome hinges. Very nice, don’t 

you think? Available at bath dealers and leading hardware outlets.

Teak cooler cabinet 

HomeSense, which now has outlets across the Lower 

Mainland, offers discount prices on items for the home, 

and sometimes they are a huge hit. An example is the 

teak cooler cabinet for the deck, big enough to handle a 

case of beer or a few bottles of wine, and strong enough 

to sit on. Priced at around $60, they sold out in hours 

of hitting the floor in the Coquitlam HomeSense store 

this spring, but are still available at other HomeSense 

locations. There is also a larger version, with no cooler, 

that can be used for storage and seating. 

Fabulous faux coatings 

Langley-based Mayne Coatings has a process that can make aluminum look 

like anything from marble or leopard skin to wood, and it is the latter that has 

proved a hit for the young company. Founder Wayne Nelson discovered the 

process in Italy in 2005 and brought it home. “The process is literally a photographic 

likeness of wood bonded onto aluminum,” explains Nelson. It involves 

patented technologies that allow any image to be transferred onto metal via 

organic, photosensitive pigments. The ink becomes gas at very high temperatures 

and penetrates the paint powder already sprayed onto the surface. Bottom 

line: it creates a realistic wood grain on hard-wearing metal surfaces. Expect to 

see it appearing on doors, windows, window screens and railings this year. 

Thicker engineered hardwood 

Engineered hardwoods are now a force in the renovation flooring market, and 

new products are making them even more of a contender against real hardwood. 

An example is Renaissance Old World Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer that distributes 

in British Columbia. The company has developed an engineered hardwood 

with the veneer coating a hefty 3/16-inch thick, about twice that of most 

engineered floors. This allows the floors to be sanded and treated more like real 

wood. They can even add tool marks and aging patinas to make the floor look like 

recycled hardwood, and can match existing floors for a renovation. Each custom 

plank is actually signed by a craftsman. This is not inexpensive, priced about the 

same as a high-quality oak. Check with your local floor dealers for availability. 

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8 HOT 

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Super scrubber mop 

You can mop and scrub away floor dirt, scuff 

marks and more with the quick new Power 

Mop from Black and Decker. The Power Mop is 

two cleaning tools in one: a mop with cleaning 

fluid dispenser that cleans large surfaces, and 

a rotating powered scrubber that tackles tough 

stuck-on dirt and grime. Pour any floor cleaner 

into the Power Mop’s refillable cleaner bottle, and 

its spray nozzle directs the cleaner where you need it. 

The cleaning pad also clicks onto the mop so you don’t 

have to bend over to put it on. After you finish cleaning, 

just twist a knob and the ejection system drops 

the pad directly into the trash. It also accepts most 

disposable floor cleaning pads. The Power Mop has 

a suggested retail price of around $40, and is available 

at home centres and hardware retailers. 

An affordable house 

Vancouver-based Smallworks Studio and Laneway 

Housing introduced this concept at the Design 

Vancouver Expo this May: a tiny house that can be 

placed in a backyard (zoning permitting) as a garden 

suite, say for an elderly relative or as a guest 

suite. They could be an option to renovating a 

suite into an existing house. Their show suite, 123 

Anywhere Lane, is the size of a single-car garage and 

features millwork, solar panels and interior finishing. 

They also have a traditional design that looks 

something like a big dollhouse. Estimated cost of the 

small houses is about $175 per square foot, or from 

$30,000-$50,000 for a 200-square foot model. 

Something 

hot? 

Know of a hot new product? 

Share it with our readers. 

E-mail: hmeditor@biv.com

GREEN CHANGES 

Invisible window film 

reduces energy use 

Summer is coming, and the cost of keeping 

homes cool and comfortable means 

higher air conditioning costs. Studies 

show that windows account for about 40 

Window on the left has a clear spectrally 

selective window film; the one on the 

right is not coated with a film. 

per cent of a home’s cooling cost, due to 

heat entering through the glass. There 

are high-performance windows that can 

reduce heat buildup, but there is also a less 

expensive method using window films. 

Now, with new technology, the window 

film looks just as clear as normal glass. 

Most tinted window films transmit 

less than 34 per cent of visible light, far 

less than the 70 per cent necessary to be 

undetected by the naked eye. The result 

is interiors are darkened, often requiring 

the use of increased illumination. This 

leads to higher electricity consumption 

that may increase inside temperatures 

requiring more air-conditioning, which 

defeats the whole purpose. 

New, clear “spectrally selective window 

film” have the ability to let in desirable 

daylight, while blocking out undesirable 

heat. 

Spectrally selective film, which blocks 

heat equivalent to the darkest films, 

transmits 70 per cent of the visible light 

yet is virtually invisible. 

The spectrally selective film is more 

expensive than tinted films. Depending 

on the installation and the geographic 

area, the best spectrally selective film 

ranges from approximately $13 to $18 a 

square foot installed, or about twice the 

price of tinted and reflective films, according 

to Dale Malkovich 

of Universal Solar Film 

of Kelowna. 

Ask your renovation 

contractor or 

window supplier about 

the new window films, 

the payback can be 

fairly quick. 

ReStore extends 

recycling 

Habitat for Humanity 

Greater Vancouver 

has opened its second 

ReStore outlet, selling 

donated new and used 

building and renovation materials at bargain 

prices. 

Located at 69 West 69th Avenue in 

Vancouver, the store offers good quality 

new and used materials ranging from 

laminate and ceramic flooring to windows, 

doors, hardware, cabinets, tool and 

even appliances. 

Materials are donated to ReStore by 

building supply stores, contractors, demolition 

crews and manu- 

Second Restore 

now open at 69, West 69th, 

Vancouver. 

facturers. ReStore helps the environment 

by selling re-usable materials that would 

otherwise end up in the landfill. 

“Profits from ReStore also help to 

build affordable housing,” notes Anneke 

Rees, executive director of Habitat for 

Humanity Greater Vancouver. 

Traditional bulbs fade into history. 

Lights out for old bulbs 

The light is fading on the traditional 

incandescent bulb that sheds more heat 

than light. 

The federal government has 

announced a plan to phase out inefficient 

lightbulbs by 2012 to cut energy 

use and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn 

says the ban will eliminate more than 

six million tonnes in greenhouse pollution 

annually. 

Since fluorescent lights, the normal 

replacement, are more expensive than 

conventional bulbs, consumers will be 

paying a higher initial cost, but they will 

make it up in reduced electricity costs 

over the longer term. 

Ottawa’s move is part of a major continuing 

effort by the Conservative government 

to position itself as environmentally 

progressive. The ban is virtually cost-free 

for the government, and the political path 

has already been broken by Australia and 

Ontario, which announced a phaseout 

earlier this year. 

“Switching to energy-efficient 

lightbulbs is the first choice 

that we can make in becoming 

energy-efficient consumers,’’ said 

Stuart Hickox, executive director 

of Project Porchlight, which promotes 

efficient lighting. 

B.C. Environment Minister Barry 

Penner voiced worries about the 

environmental risk posed by toxic mercury 

contained in fluorescent lights. 

Penner has asked his staff for an analysis 

of what impact the additional mercury 

will have in waste management. � 

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MAKING NEWS 

A special 

cure 

How to turn a boxy Special 

into a trendy Craftsman 

The Vancouver Special has always 

had a love-hate relationship 

with the city of its birth. The 

ubiquitous and efficient houses deliver 

maximum two-level living 

space, but they have a jarring 

disadvantage. The bland 

boxes are often seen as an 

intrusion into toney avenues 

of Craftsman and Tudor 

architecture, particularly on 

the city’s west side. 

Yet, as a recent renovation 

on West 38th shows, the 

Special can be altered at rela- 

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BEFORE (LEFT): A 30-year-old Vancouver Special 

appeared out of place among its heritage-style 

Kitsilano neighbours. 

AFTER (ABOVE & OPPOSITE): Raising and peaking the 

roofline, improving the deck esthetic, and adding 

new windows, painted stucco, Cultured Stone 

and wood trim, created a Craftsman-style home 

from the Vancouver Special platform. 

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After photos: Richard Lam

tively low cost to blend seamlessly with 

its more sophisticated neighbours. 

“This is the most successful transformation 

of a Special I have ever seen,” 

said veteran contractor Martin Tremblay, 

project manager of RJR Construction 

Management Ltd. 

By changing the roofline and siding 

and improving the front deck, adding 

new windows, vertical wood trim and 

stucco, which were painted in heritageinspired 

colours, the square old Special 

suddenly became a trendy Craftsmanstyle 

home. 

The RJR renovation also included 

upgrades to the interior, but no extra 

living space was added, difficult to do in 

any case because Specials are designed to 

achieve the maximum floor-space-ratio 

on a city lot. 

In this project, the tar gravel from the 

old roof was removed, as were all the roof 

overhangs. A new peaked roof was then 

framed on top using pre-engineered scissor 

roof trusses and half-inch plywood. 

The new roof was capped with laminated 

fibreglass shingles, and the chimney 

extended up about six feet. 

According to Tremblay, who estimates 

the entire exterior renovation came in at 

around $80,000, such a makeover could 

work on any Vancouver Special with 

straight roof gables, which most of them 

have. � 

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WHAT’S IN STORE 

Main Street 

Antiques, treasures and fabulous retro finds 

By Baila Lazarus 

Main Street is where more is 

more: More cafés, more clothing 

stores and now, unbelievably, 

even more furniture stores, carrying 

everything from modern leather chaises 

longues to distressed restoration antiques 

to Arne Jacobsen swan chairs. 

Parachuting into the Main/King 

Edward area and heading south, the 

first stop is the Red Corner (4219 Main), 

which offers oriental furniture. Here 

you’ll find ancient-looking Chinese food 

containers that can double as unique 

side tables ($199), furniture comprised of 

elm wood and bamboo, and beautifully 

carved or painted wooden screens and 

trunks. Head to the back for a peak at 

a stunning twin-size canopy bed, with 

ornate decor that dates (they say) to the 

early 19 th century. 

Further down at Red Rose Antiques 

(4285) is an interesting mix of furniture 

made from reclaimed wood from old 

buildings in Russia, sent overseas for processing 

in Mexico, England and Vietnam. 

The results are some beautiful one-of-akind 

pieces. The dining tables are a great 

value. A solid pine table that opens up 

to 70 inches using a jack-knife leaf costs 

only $750. 

For more of a flea-market feel, head 

another block to Continental Expressions 

(4341), where fabulous finds are around 

every tight corner. Chairs, benches, 

wooden boxes, bookcases, trinkets, gifts 

and what can only be described as “doodads” 

are piled floor to ceiling. The store 

has a large selection of room screens and 

an affinity for wooden jewelry boxes. One 

gorgeous version of the latter, made from 

beech, with a slide-away mirror, came in 

at $396. 

Across the street, J&J Antiques (4394) 

and Modern Times Antiques (4260) have 

some of the most unique pieces in the 

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Mexican double 

trunk/coffee table has two covers and 

lots of storage space. $365 at Red Rose 

Antiques. 

Bored in bed? Add some spice with this 

six-poster; $2,880 at Red Corner. 

Silent sentinel: Full-size Charlie 

Chaplin resin sculpture is $650 at 

Modern Times. 

Asian-motif jewelry box has a mirror 

that stows flat. Made of beechwood. 

$396 at Continental Expressions. 

Is that the sound of my wallet 

shrinking? An Edison gramaphone 

goes for $2,990 at J&J Antiques. 

area. J&J has a great collection of mantle 

clocks and porcelain figurines, including 

a Royal Doulton teapot for $295; but 

especially eye-catching was an Edison 

gramophone, priced at $2,990. A block 

north, Modern Times offers African 

masks, thrones, Tiffany lamps and more 

kitch than you can throw a dollar-store 

candle-holder at. But who wouldn’t want 

a life-size resin Charlie Chaplin (a steal at 

$650) to really get the party hopping? 

To experience seagrass creations, cross 

25 th heading north and stop in at Wood 

Anteak (3958). A few beautifully finished 

pieces, such as an antique-style upholstered 

telephone bench ($650) and mahog- 

any hutch ($650) are worth the drop-in. 

The newest store (at time of writing) 

is Novo Furniture (3868), which opened 

in April. Owner David Bond wanted 

an opportunity to express his taste in 

furnishings and a very diverse taste 

it is. The store displays contemporary 

“brown is the new black” leather sofas 

and chairs, reproduction antiques made 

from recycled wood, and everything 

in between. One of his best sellers is a 

Cinderella “chair and a half,” ranging 

Photos: Baila Lazarus

CLOCKWISE FORM ABOVE: Reproduction 

antique wall shelving unit comes in 

three parts for easy moving. $3,499 at 

Novo Furniture. 

Lighting is one of the biggest sellers at 

the Fabulous Find, where this chrome 

hanging lamp is $145. 

Cork, from $12 per square foot, 

installed, and colorful linoleum, from 

$7, at Burritt Brothers. 

Anemone not: Burritt Brothers’ 

textured throw rugs are a big hit on 

hardwood floors. 

Stan Hunt carving, $8,900 at Spirit 

Bear Gallery. 

from $638 to $870, depending on choice of material. 

So-out-it’s-in fans will love the Fabulous Find (1853 Main, at 

the corner of 3 rd ). The high quality of the furniture here makes 

it stand out from other mix-and-match retro venues, and the 

owners really know how to spot a good find. Italian chrome, 

Danish teak, metal wall art and distinctive lights are big draws 

for customers. In the windows in April (but probably gone by 

now) were a purple upholstered swivel cone chair at $585, and a 

Hans Olsen (for Frem Rojle) 1950s round teak dining table, with 

four tripod chairs, in pristine condition, for $1,600. 

Offering options by way of walls and floors, right across from 

one another, are Burritt Bros. Carpets (3594) and the House 

of the Spirit Bear Gallery (3957). Both have colourful ways to 

accent the antiques down the street. Burritt has some great textured 

throw rugs and splashy colours in linoleum to liven up 

Spartan condo areas, while trendy new cork flooring is said to 

reduce leg and ankle fatigue and is easy to maintain. Spirit Bear 

carries stunning Northwest Coast native art. A Morrisseau with 

a Mobilier? Why not? �

LANDSCAPING 

By Corey Van’t Haaff 

When Karen Daniels first saw 

the Curb-Ease product, she 

became excited. The morning 

show personality at JRFM radio bought 

her home new seven years ago. It was 

nicely landscaped, she said, but was missing 

something. 

“Our yard was like a very nice piece 

Curb appeal 

A concrete curb is a quick way to frame a lawn or garden 

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of art, but without the frame,” she 

said. The concrete borders added the 

frame she needed to properly showcase 

her home. She now has a coloured, 

embossed borders along her flowerbeds 

and trees, and the curb in her backyard 

has an embedded lighting system. She 

added that her “fairly competitive” 

neighbours are thinking about adding 

Photos: Curb-Ease Continuous Concrete Borders

Decorative curbs can protect gardens or highlight a walkway. Special machines 

lay out concrete curbs easily; colour and texture can also be added. Cost is 

around $5-$10 per linear foot. 

decorative curbs to their own yards. 

“We already had a driveway and 

sidewalk, and the trees and grass ran up 

to the dirt. We thought it looked okay 

until we saw the curbs done. They neaten 

everything – and I’m a neat freak. I 

would totally do it again.” 

Garry Tynan is the president and 

founder of Curb-Ease Continuous 

Concrete Borders, one of a handful of 

local companies that can do near instant 

curbs. The small, custom-built self-contained 

trailer that pulls up to a home 

contains all the equipment and material 

needed to complete a job. The machines 

Tynan uses are capable of extruding coloured 

concrete borders of pretty much 

any shape, at heights up to a foot. 

“Our small extruder travels over the 

lawn. We mix the concrete on-site and 

extrude a decorative landscaping border 

or commercial curb,” he said. 

An alternative to plastic, wood or 

brick borders, continuous concrete borders 

can also act as forms for driveways 

or can facilitate drainage where needed. 

“Conceptually, the sky’s the limit,” 

said Tynan, but a normal curb ranges 

from six-inches wide by four-inches high, 

angling down to two-and-a-half inches at 

front with a slant edge. Borders around 

flowerbeds help to contain the soil and 

can be shaped to almost any configuration. 

The borders also form a “very effective 

root barrier,” he said. 

A variety of colours can be used, 

which are mixed right into the concrete. 

The curbs can even mimic the look of 

natural materials such as cobblestone, 

brick, tile and slate. 

Tynan said most jobs are completed in 

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Locally Owned & Operated 

Stamp Concrete 

COLOUR SEAL PROTECTION LTD. 

Pavers 

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the surface from stains. 

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make your concrete surfaces safer. 

4. If the colour is fading in stamped concrete, 

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��

BATHROOM MAKEOVER 

Bedroom to 

BATHROOM 

Victoria heritage home needed a large family bath

Photos: Jo-Anne Richards, Works Photography 

LEFT: Marble, 

quarried on 

Vancouver Island, 

was used for the 

surrounds on the 

tub and vanities. 

By Betty Campbell 

When Robin and Wayne 

Poncia bought a charming 

English Arts and Crafts 

home in the affluent Uplands district 

of Victoria, they wanted to retain its 

1920s-era character while updating its 

interior. 

The first step was adding a much 

larger bathroom to the four-bedroom 

home. 

Built in 1929, and close to 5,000 

square feet, the house needed some updating. But the couple 

was adamant that home’s fine features and classic lines would 

remain preserved and intact. They found a soulmate in Victoria 

designer Bruce Wilkin of Bruce Wilkin Design. 

“With two school-age boys, the bathroom can be a busy 

place, so we had to bring all of our needs together in this space,” 

Robin explained. 

The solution proved to be converting a second floor bedroom 

and small ensuite into a large new family bathroom. 

The first challenge Wilkin encountered was how to accommodate 

the bathroom’s functional elements. 

“We did a surgical renovation and used an old laundry chute 

as a chase – a cavity through which wiring and pipes run,” 

Wilkin said. 

The bathroom, at approximately 165 square feet, is roomy 

enough to accommodate his and her vanities, on opposite walls 

with classic oval drop-in sinks. Shaker-style cabinetry, a walkin 

shower complete with rain and adjustable showerheads, a 

soaker tub and even a laundry area were added. A private toilet 

nook took over the space of the former 

bedroom’s closet. 

Original doors stored by the previous 

owners were refurbished to spruce 

up the new bathroom. Hardwood, 

pulled up to make room for the new, 

radiant-heat floor tile, was re-used for 

closets elsewhere in the house. 

ABOVE: The large 

new bathroom 

has room for 

his and hers 

vanities, a walkin 

shower and a 

soaker tub. One 

original leadglass 

window 

was saved; one 

is a duplicate. 

Marble flooring 

was added 

to reflect the 

home’s heritage 

architecture. 

LEFT: Before: 

an old bedroom 

provided the 

space. 

��

The former bedroom closet found new life as a 

private toilet nook. There was even room for a 

stacked laundry in the 165-square-foot bathroom 

Classic to Contemporary 

200 Designs + 600 Fabrics 

Custom Options Available 

Showroom open 

Monday - Saturday 10 - 4 

12885 85 Avenue 

Surrey BC 

T 604 543 9200 

F 604 543 5129 

www.vangoghdesigns.com 

�� 

Non-slip Carrara marble tiles were chosen for the flooring to 

“keep the room from looking too new,” said Wilkin. The marble 

surround on the tub and vanities was quarried on Vancouver 

Island – and their curved design help to soften the room’s 

angles. 

Robin added shimmer with a crystal chandelier, glass door 

pulls, polished nickel fittings and silver candleholders. 

“I wanted the bathroom to be luxurious yet practical,” Robin 

said. “It was a question of accommodating our needs with a bit 

of glamour, and bringing it all together.” �

KITCHEN MAKEOVER 

Timeless taste 

By Sylvia Shaw 

Vancouver’s brilliant Robert 

Ledingham is the fi rst Canadian 

designer to win the International 

Interior Design Association Leadership 

Award, and has collected scores of other 

honours during his 30 years at the top 

of the interior design fi eld. He was 

recently entrusted to create a visionary 

kitchen for a super-luxury condominium 

development at the University of British 

Columbia. 

Robert Ledingham can inspire 

your kitchen makeover 

The open plan kitchen is lit with halogen task lights and pots in 

the recessed ceiling, plus natural light from large windows. The 

countertops are Quarella quartz composite stone; the cabinets are 

Varenna custom-designed fl at panel in oak or cherry wood with 

white lacquer fi nish. The Sub-Zero refrigerator, and Fisher & Paykel 

DishDrawer dishwasher, is tucked into the cabinetry. The backsplash 

is a continuous sheet of tempered glass. Floors are solid hardwood.

�� 

We know, this isn’t a kitchen makeover, 

but we believe Ledingham’s ideas 

are well worth stealing. 

The residences at Intracorp’s exclusive 

Stirling House, just 10 in all and 

priced from $1.15 million to $3.6 million, 

are thought to define contemporary 

interior design in Vancouver. 

In an interview, Ledingham 

explained, “I’m looking for the sort 

of materials that will have a timeless 

quality, that 15 years from now will still 

look good in the space.” 

This is the same concept that savvy 

homeowners should carry into their 

own kitchen renovations. 

The first thing you notice in the 

sleek Stirling kitchen is that the refrigerator 

has disappeared in the open floor 

plan. The 36-inch Sub-Zero is hidden 

within the Varenna custom-designed flat 

panel kitchen cabinets. 

Such top-of-the-line appliances define 

Ledingham’s desire for timeless quality. 

These include a Miele 27-inch stainless 

steel wall oven and stainless steel warming 

drawer, each with Profi handles. A 

Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer dishwasher 

tucks discreetly into the entertainment- 

LEFT: HansGrohe 

Interaktiv S higharc 

spray pull-out 

polished chrome 

faucet is installed 

above a Kindred 

under-mounted 

double bowl 

stainless steel 

sink 

BELOW: Miele range 

and cooking oven 

reflect the use of 

high-end, longwearing 

stainless 

steel appliances. 

style wet island, while a large Panasonic 

Genius Prestige Invertor stainless steel 

microwave oven is built into the cabinets. 

The range hood is a Cristal by Faber, a 

high-powered, three-speed model. 

All of the countertops are Quarella 

quartz composite stone, which wears 

extremely well and will not stain. The 

backsplash is a tempered glass panel that 

reaches to the underside of the cabinets. 

The message from the master designer: 

design your makeover for the future with 

quality and clarity as your guides. �

ALL HOMES OPEN SUNDAY JUNE 3, 10 A.M.-4 P.M. 

Parade of the best 

renovated homes 

Professionals proudly open 13 homes for tours 

Want to see how the professionals handle 

renovations – and talk to them in person? 

Your opportunity comes Sunday, June 3, 

when members of the Renovation Council 

of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ 

Association open 13 professionally renovated 

homes from West Vancouver to 

White Rock, featuring award-winning 

homes and post-modernistic makeovers. 

A $10 passport, available at any of 

the homes, gets you into all the homes, 

with part proceeds going to carpentry and 

trades education at local high schools. For 

more information, visit www.gvhba.org. 

1835 Kitchener Street, Vancouver 

Intermind Design Inc., 604-338-9936 

Just off Commercial Drive, this postmodernist 

renovation may prove a parade 

stopper. Made over to complement the 

neighbouring architecture, which dates to 

the 1920s, yet with a radical edge, the project 

includes bold exterior treatment and 

colours to reflect the area’s multicultural 

milieu. Inside, the home is redone with 

glass doors, walnut flooring and polished 

stone counters, and acrylic furniture and 

chandeliers. Artistic influences are seen 

in Sol LeWitt stripes and black-and-white 

Malevich-inspired murals. Don’t miss 

this makeover. 

��

1291 Devonshire Crescent, Vancouver 

T.Q. Construction Ltd., 604-430-9900 

A complete interior renovation was undertaken on this 5,000square-foot 

West Side Vancouver house, including a new 

kitchen, a refreshed wok kitchen and the makeover of all four 

bedrooms on the second level. The home was also wired with 

super-smart controls. The basement was remade into a friendly 

place for the owners’ four large dogs. Energy upgrades include 

new furnace and radiant heating, and low-energy lighting. 

13456 - 16th Avenue, White Rock 

Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Renovations, 604-431-0321 

This “too small” duplex was in need of a complete makeover to 

open up the space inside. Creative space planning, new windows, 

additional French doors and large glass sliders have created 

a spacious feel without adding any square footage. Reclaimed 

fir flooring, maple cabinetry, splendid tile work in the baths, and 

a myriad of small details throughout, transformed the house. 

From the expanded entry foyer to the reconfigured living room, 

it now has the open, airy look the homeowners were after. 

956 Underhill Drive, Delta (Tsawwassen) 

MP Construction Ltd., 604-816-4276 

This plain 1960s back-split with carport 

has undergone a complete makeover 

and now boasts an exterior with 

stone detail and a large garage. The 

refurbished home has a slate-floor entry leading to a living room 

with elegant crown moulding and a new fireplace. The small 

separate dining room and outdated kitchen have become a greatroom 

with custom cabinetry, large island, granite countertops, 

wet bar, media centre, and a new hardwood floor that extends 

throughout the main level. The renovated lower level offers a 

slate-floored and wainscotted family room that opens to the garden, 

plus an elegant powder room and new laundry room. 

�� 

4935 – 1ST Avenue, Delta (Tsawwassen) 

MP Construction Ltd., 604-816-4276 

This 40-year-old rancher underwent an 

extensive renovation and a 200-square-foot addition that 

recreated the living area floor plan. The former small entrance 

hall, sunken living room, and separate kitchen have been 

replaced by a single-level spacious and airy great room featuring 

a stunning kitchen with large granite island and stainless-steel 

appliances, teak floors, stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and 

walls of windows which open to the extended patio leading to 

the pool deck. A new powder room and laundry with slate floors 

complete this beautiful and functional renovation. 

15673 – 93A Avenue, Surrey 

Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Renovations, 

604-431-0321 

A growing family needed more 

space in their 20-year-old subdivision 

home. A complete renovation with an addition over 

the garage for two more bedrooms, a new family bath and 

an expanded master suite for the parents proved the solution. 

Cherrywood kitchen cabinets and granite countertops 

are enhanced by a bright new sunroom. Hardwood floors and 

extensive tiles are used throughout. A new media room, built to 

energy-efficiency standards, and a fully landscaped yard complete 

this makeover.

4523 Southridge Crescent, Langley 

Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Renovations, 604-431-0321 

The exterior changes are dramatic, but the real 

potential was visualized inside this 35-year-old family 

house on an acre lot in Langley. The result of 

the extensive renovation is the look and feel of a brand new, 

4,000-square-foot family home. The main living area now has 

an open concept, with a striking new stairway, spacious dining 

room and kitchen. Clear alder cabinets, in cappuccino stain, are 

a kitchen highlight, along with a large, dark-granite island in 

a distressed finish, with raised eating bar. The heated ceramic 

tile floors in the kitchen and dining area transition to the handscraped 

hardwood floors of the great room. In addition, there is 

a new ground level legal suite with a double French door entry. 

3212 Connaught Avenue, North Vancouver 

CCI Renovations, 604-980-8384 

A 40-year-old kitchen was ready for an extreme makeover. 

The new kitchen was expanded into an adjacent room and 

opened up into the nook to the other side. The result of 

this architecturally designed kitchen, by Griffiths Uhryniuk 

Architecture, is an open plan, multi-task, state-of-the-art layout 

with all the bells and whistles. Using natural maple cabinets 

allowed for the use of a number of different complimentary 

materials on the counters, floors and walls, such as butcher 

block, stainless steel, bricks and slate. The area is warm and 

intimate, yet can handle a number of cooks and observers 

– great for entertaining. 

Congratulations to an 

Award winning team! 

Pictured (L to R Top) Piers Wylie, 

Linda Jones, Don Schultz (Pres) 

Pictured (L to R bottom) 

Jeff Rebiffe and Graeme Huguet 

The team struck “Gold” 3 times 

at the 2006 Georgie Awards for: 

�� Best Kitchen/Great Room 

�� Best Interior Design — 

New or Renovation 

�� Best Renovation 

$200,000 to $400,000 

They also received the award for 

“ Canada’s Best Kitchen” 

at the 2006 National Sam Awards. 

Let this talented team go to work 

on your “Dream” Renovation” today 

THE NEXT BIG WINNER? 

105-12877 76th Ave 

Surrey, B.C. V3W 1E6 

604.431.0321 

WWW.HOUSESMARTRENOVATIONS.COM 

��

2130 Hill Drive, North Vancouver 

CCI Renovations, 604-980-8384 

This 23-year-old home was uninspiring, dark 

and worn out. The strictly interior renovation 

concentrated on opening up a new gourmet 

kitchen space to the dining and living rooms. The powder and 

main bathrooms received new fixtures and finishes, while the 

master ensuite was completely rebuilt – featuring a walk-in 

shower with frameless glass enclosure. The rest of the house 

received much-needed new flooring, paint and millwork, helping 

to give the home a fresh new look and feel. 

After 

WITH 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, 

QUINTON CONSTRUCTION IS A PROVEN 

LEADER IN GREATER VANCOUVER 

HOME RENOVATIONS. 

• Personal Service • Commitment to Quality 

• Architectural Millwork 

• Any size Renovation 

Proudly presented in the 

Parade of Renovated Homes 

Before 

Quinton Construction 123, 11860 Hammersmith Way, Richmond, B.C. V7A 5G1 

Phone: 604-271-4876 Fax: 604-271-4877 www.quintonconstruction.com 

�� 

1315 Elinor Crescent, Port Coquitlam 

Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Renovations, 

604-431-0321 

A “West Coast oasis” is what the homeowners 

envisioned when planning the 

renovations of this 1969 Port Coquitlam 

home. The end results have surpassed 

even their highest expectations. This 

extraordinary project garnered three Gold 

Georgie Awards this year, as well as the 

Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s 

national SAM award for best kitchen. 

From the meandering streambed, ponds 

and waterfalls in the backyard, to the 

curving S-shaped island in the kitchen, 

the finished project creates a harmonious 

feel. The extensive use of natural materials 

is evident throughout, particularly in the 

detailed cedar sunroom off the kitchen 

and the award-winning landscape. This 

must-see project is an excellent example of 

what can be achieved with thorough planning 

and a clear design vision. 

5473 Montebre Crescent, West Vancouver 

JHC Craftsmen Ltd., 604-980-7818 

The kitchen of this West Vancouver house, 

which dates from the 1980s, now features 

extensive granite and stainless steel and an 

entirely new stainless-steel appliance package, 

including Sub-Zero fridge and built-in 

Dacor oven and microwave. The central 

focus is the redone island with its stainlesssteel 

Faber updraft range hood and new 

five-burner cooktop range. Glass blocks 

were used in the backsplash to enhance the 

natural light. Work also includes a refurbished 

bathroom and downstairs wine bar.

7538 Haszard Street, Burnaby 

Quinton Construction Ltd., 604-271-4876 

Th is is a major renovation to an existing 

33-year-old, two-storey, 2,800-square-foot wood framed house. 

Situated near the east shore of Deer Lake in the Buckingham 

Heights area, this makeover saw about 1,400 square feet added. 

Included is a new upper one-half storey, as well as new covered 

porches at the front and rear elevations. Th e exterior vertical 

wood siding and a low-pitch roof were transformed by shingle, 

board-and-batten cladding, and asphalt shingles to the extensive 

new roof forms. Critical to the home’s new open fl ow is a new 

staircase inside, with frameless glass for railings and walls. Th e 

house now successfully blends an Old World craft smanship 

exterior with a contemporary, open-plan interior. 

Renovation/Addition Specialists 

Before After 

New Custom Homes 

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Home Theatres 

Whistler, Sea to Sky, 

North Vancouver, West Vancouver, 

Members of CHBA, HPO, National Home Warranty 

604-932-1116 

www.schreyerconstruction.com 

The birth of 

a new era! 

550 West St. James Road, North Vancouver 

RJR Construction Management Ltd., 604-254-1760 

Th is makeover began with enhancing the exterior of the 1960era, 

two-storey home to create a Craft sman-style curb appeal, 

and then extended to a free-fl owing interior renovation. Granite 

is used for the exterior treatment and accents. Note how the 

old carport is blended into the renovation, as a stylish two-car 

garage that now accesses a new family and media room. Inside, 

granite is used on kitchen countertops, and fl oors are covered 

in both slate and hardwood. Th e master ensuite was redesigned, 

part of the whole house makeover. � 

Custom Solutions for 

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��

Spirit of 

Whistler 

Classic Alta Vista chalet remade for a new generation 

Refl ecting the owner’s interest in Whistler wildlife, a grizzly bear motif is carved 

and inset into the solid fi r front door. Art of a bear fi shing for salmon was also set 

into the tiles of the foyer, and presented as a gift to the owner.

Extensive cedar and pine 

decking, front and back, 

now frame the vacation 

home. The covered rear 

deck features a hot tub, 

wired for sound, with an 

outdoor dining area and 

fl at-screen TV. New cedar 

siding and a new metal roof 

replaced the originals. 

BEFORE: Circa 1960s Alta Vista chalet.

By Frank O’Brien 

Built in the then-emerging Alta 

Vista community of Whistler, the 

family chalet had weathered 40 

winters and, while still solid, was makeover 

ready for a new generation. 

The year-long renovation, completed 

recently by Peak Ventures with design 

treatment by Whistler Interior Design, 

added 1,000 square feet, extensive new 

decking and interior work, state-of-the-art 

technology, and a series of signature carvings 

reflecting a love of large animals. 

This is apparent at the massive fir front 

door, etched with a bear relief that is 

carried into tile work inlaid in the lobby 

floor. The owner runs a successful midway 

amusement company, which began as a 

wild animal touring group decades ago. 

This also explains the bronze tile lion’s 

head logo, set into the kitchen cabinets. 

“This all started because the owner 

wanted to improve the kitchen and add a 

mud room,” said David Girard, president 

of Peak Ventures. “It just grew from there.” 

Natural materials were used throughout 

the renovation, sometimes in surpris- 

�� 

�� 

The project started as a small kitchen 

and mud room renovation and grew 

into a whole home makeover, with the 

addition of 1,000 square feet of familyfriendly 

living space. 

�� 

��

ing ways. Local wide plank alder, for instance, was chosen for 

the hardwood fl ooring that now covers the entire main living 

area. “Alder is durable and very hard to mess up if fi nished 

properly,” Girard explains. 

Th e new covered back deck features a hot tub and outdoor 

dining area, anchored by a giant Viking gas grill set in stone. Th e 

space also includes a large fl at screen Sunbrite TV, the latest generation, 

with a super bright screen for outdoor daytime viewing. 

“It took us months to get it,” Girard recalls. 

Inspiring 

Daydreams 

Vinyltek windows and doors are 

manufactured with the highest standards 

in energy savings, security and comfort. 

Our commitment to quality is reflected by 

our all-inclusive Lifetime Warranty. 

A massive Glulam beam bisects the kitchen and living 

room. The fl oors are wide plank alder; the vaulted ceiling is 

panelled in local pine. 

www.vinyltek.com | 604.540.0029 Vinyltek Heritage Series – Double Casement Window 

��

Th e TV is part of an $80,000 sight and sound package, which 

includes an upstairs home theatre, fi ve fl at screen TVs and a 

whole-house surround sound system that can be controlled 

from the hot tub. An advanced security system includes a 

default cellular phone set up. 

Th is isn’t the 1960s anymore. 

Th e theme for the interior design is “family cozy and comfortable,” 

explains Debbie Evans, president of Whistler Interior 

Unit 3 – 1030 Millar Creek Road Whistler BC Canada V0N 1B1 

�� 

Before 

604.938.3389 phone 

604.938.3381 fax 

www.whistlerdesign.com 

ABOVE: The kitchen counters 

are granite. A new Viking 

stainless steel appliance 

package was added. 

Debbie Evans CMKBD, RID 

Certifi ed Master Kitchen 

& Bath Designer 

Registered Interior Designer 

INSET: A lion’s head, the owner’s company logo, is 

set into cabinet posts. 

� Consultations 

� Renovations 

� New Homes 

� Interiors 

www.renoreport.com 

604-921-8044

Design. Th is is captured in subtle colours and textures and a generous 

use of wood and other low-maintenance natural materials 

for the pure vacation home. 

Th e stairway was reworked with alder risers and steps and a 

custom-designed railing. Upstairs, two bedrooms for children 

and grandchildren were redone with new bunk beds, and the 

master bathroom was enlarged. 

Green features include a new high-effi ciency gas furnace 

and the use of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) glues and 

laminates, plus careful recycling of all waste material. 

Aft er four decades, the family vacation chalet is now ready 

for future generations to enjoy. � 

Limestone is used 

for countertops 

in the upgraded 

bathrooms, 

and all three 

bathroom 

fl oors have infl 

oor radiant 

heating installed 

beneath the large 

format tiles. 

APEX 

GRANITE AND TILE INC. 

� Marble 

� Granite Tops 

� Granite 

� Slate 

Tel: 604-882-9284 Fax: 604-882-9172 

E-mail: apexgranite@shaw.ca 

www.apexgranite.com 

Exteriors 

Fireplaces 

� Limestone 

� Ceramic Tile 

� Clean, Seal & 

Repolish All 

Natural Stone 

APEX GRANITE & TILE 

specializes in granite fabrication, 

stone restoration and all types of tile 

and slate installations. 

Our projects range from residential 

installations to Olympic size pools, 

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Whether you have a counter top, 

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equipped to handle your projects. 

Pools 

Countertops 

��

Advertorial 

Co-operative 

Effort 


This successful makeover of a large 

family house on Vancouver’s 

Devonshire Crescent underlines the 

strength of the design-build process 

and the advantage of working with an 

experienced renovation company. 

After three years of architectural 

plans, budgeting, and price estimates 

that had spiraled ever higher, yet with 

their renovation plan still stalled, the 

home owners turned to TQ Construction 

in the fall of 2005. 

Fortunately, TQ, an award-winning 

renovation firm that has handled many 

large contracts, takes a unique, holistic 

approach in the busy renovation market. 

“We look at the owner’s budget first 

and then discuss in detail the vision 

they have for their home,” explained TQ 

president Ralph Belisle “The renovation 

Design/build approach creates 

a home to be proud of 

becomes a co-operative effort, but we 

always keep an eye on the costs, showing 

where savings can be made and where it 

is worthwhile to spend a bit extra.” 

Belisle explained to the owners how 

TQ’s design/build process works. The 

method outlines an overall vision within 

the budget parameters and then decisions 

are made on how the work will proceed. 

“It is a pay-as-you-go process so there are 

no sudden shocks,” said Belisle, whose 

work earned TQ recognition as British 

Columbia’s Renovator of the Year in 

2003 and 2005, among other honours. 

TQ’s twenty-plus-years experience 

led to suggestions on how the renovation 

could be improved, at minimal extra cost 

to the owners. 

A simple example: all of the solid 

hardwood doors in the home were 

carefully removed, refinished and 

remounted rather than being thrown out 

and replaced. 

Working closely with the owners, who 

wanted a complete interior makeover of 

their three-level, 5,000 square foot house, 

TQ designed a consistent theme of 

materials that allowed the home’s décor 

to flow within its various elements. 

The plan called for a wall and beam 

divider between the kitchen, dining 

room and wok kitchen to be removed, 

the separation of the wok kitchen and a 

pantry, and the creation of a family room. 

At TQ’s suggestion, the entire main 

level was re-floored in large format tiles. 

Upstairs, all four bedrooms and three 

bathrooms were refinished. The faded 

marble tile floor was ripped up – some of 

the shards became the base for the master

Three new gas fireplaces were installed, two of them 

mounted with flat-screen TVs. 

The totally renovated kitchen includes a twolevel 

kitchen island that acts as a natural screen 

and divider, stainless steel appliances, a wine 

cooler, granite countertops, new flat-panel 

cabinets and a large garden window over the 

new sink. The wok kitchen was upgraded with 

new appliances, counters and cabinets and 

separated by a leaded glass door. 

ensuite shower – and replaced with 

ceramic tiles. Tubs, showers, cabinets 

and sinks in all bathrooms were replaced, 

along with new granite and sandstone 

countertops. 

TQ wired the 20-year old house into 

the 21st century with the addition of 

whole house structured “smart” wiring 

After photos: Raef Grohne 

The original bleached oak stairway 

to the upper level was replaced 

with a new railing in contemporary 

dark tones, and a new wrought 

iron railing was added. New nonslip 

carpet runners were also 

installed. 

that allows remote 

control of heating, 

lighting, security 

system and multimedia. 

Kitchen before 

Much of the 

existing lighting was upgraded with 

energy-efficient fixtures and bulbs, and 

the existing in-floor hydronic radiant 

heating was replaced with a new highefficiency 

boiler, and radiant coils 

beneath the tiles. 

As well, a total of three new gas 

fireplaces were installed, two of them 

mounted with flat-screen TVs. 

In the basement, TQ created a 

friendly place for the family’s four large 

Before 

dogs, which now have their own bathing 

area and private tiled spaces, plus easy 

access to an outside run. 

The successful result: a new home 

better than the owners have envisioned 

and priced within their budget. 

TQ Construction Ltd., 

106, 8988 Fraserton Court, 

Burnaby, B.C., V5J 5H8 

Phone: 604-430-9900 

Web: www.tqconstruction.ca 

This home is featured in the Parade of Renovated Homes 

Address: 1291 Devonshire Crescent (at Hudson) Vancouver: 

Open Sunday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lifting 

Lifting 

Lifting 

Lifting 

experience 

In-house elevator can 

add comfort and value 

�� 


Installing an elevator in a private home makes a lot more 

sense than most realize, especially in Greater Vancouver’s 

high-priced real estate environment. 

Should aging knees or other problems make it difficult to use 

stairs, homeowners are often faced with the difficult decision 

to sell their house and relocate to another with one-level living. 

This, however, may mean moving out of a beloved home in a 

familiar neighbourhood, plus dealing with the stress and complexities 

of a competitive and fast-paced housing market. 

Installing an elevator, however, can cost about the same as a 

moderate kitchen renovation and provides a degree of mobility 

and convenience that adds comfort and increased value to the 

home, explains Maike Marnet, president of Decortec Homelift 

Inc., of North Vancouver. 

While a lack of mobility may trigger the installation of an 

ABOVE: An elevator can often be most easily installed on the 

home’s exterior, with access from both the garden and the 

interior. Here a glass-encased lift rises from the pool of a 

West Vancouver home. 

LEFT: In some cases, an existing stairwell can be used for the 

elevator shaft installation.

Elevator doors can be matched to 

look like a bedroom door, and are 

available in a wide variety of styles 

and finishing. 

elevator, once it is installed, residents 

quickly appreciate the convenience of 

being able to move luggage, laundry and 

other heavy items without the need to lug 

them up two or three flights of stairs. 

“The elevator soon becomes indispensable,” 

Marnet said. 

Government aid 

For those with disabilities and a low 

income, Canada Mortgage and Housing 

Corporation will provide funding to help 

cover the cost of installation, under its 

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance 

Program. Marnet, however, said most of her 

clients see the elevator as a luxurious and 

affordable addition to an already fine home. 

An elevator is more convenient and, 

depending on the home’s layout, can be 

easier to install and less intrusive than a 

stair lift, she added. 

The typical cost of installing a threestorey 

elevator, say running from the 

basement to the upstairs’ bedrooms, costs 

about $35,000, excluding related construction 

work. 

A three-person lift can often be 

installed next to the existing stairwell, 

while some houses may have two closets 

stacked above each other, which allows 

space to install the elevator shaft. 

In many cases, installing the elevator 

on the exterior of the house, with entry 

gates both inside and outside, is the easiest 

and less costly method, Marnet said. “This 

allows access from the garden, driveway 

or perhaps the pool,” she explained. 

The typical size needed for the elevator 

shaft is three feet by four feet and the “pit” 

for the hydraulics hoist can be as shallow 

as four inches, which means the elevators 

represent a fairly small footprint. 

Homeowners can also forget concerns 

that the elevator will look institutional. 

Custom designs are available to match 

any décor, from glass-encased shafts to 

wood and highly decorative finishes, and 

the elevator entrance can be disguised to 

look like a bedroom door. 

It takes about a week for a professional 

crew to install a hydraulic elevator, and 

the only wiring needed is a 220-volt outlet, 

Marnet explained. With CSA-approved 

lifts, the elevators come standard with 

automatic safety doors, emergency controls, 

lighting and lockout switches. 

“Elevators are becoming a major renovation 

trend,” said Marnet, who recently 

sold an elevator to owners of a two-storey 

Vancouver penthouse. “It adds a custom 

luxury touch, like a home theatre.” � 

��

Flooring 

Persian 

carpets: myths 

and magic 

By Hadani Ditmars 

Persian carpets have always 

intrigued me – their allure being 

part aesthetic, part tactile and 

part, well … mystical. 

We all know about the myth of the 

flying carpet – actually born of Sufi 

dervish tales of levitation during prayer. 

There is also a well-established connection 

between the concept of paradise and 

the garden-themed floral design of many 

Persian rugs. There is even a more esoteric 

theory that the centre of a carpet’s 

design represents the axis of the world. 

Whatever their spiritual value, the 

beauty of carpets remained a constant 

throughout my travels in the Middle East 

and Central Asia. As I write this at my 

desk in Far Western Kitsilano, a red and 

black Uzbek antique carpet I picked up 

in Bukhara peeks out at me with a near 

Eastern gaze – simultaneously exotic and 

cozy. 

I purchased it at the former summer 

palace of the last sultan of Bukhara. 

When the Russians invaded in 1920, he 

fled, abandoning his 400-strong harem. 

Being pragmatic, as well as beautiful, the 

women opened a bazaar on the old 

palace grounds, which remains 

to this day, having weathered the 

excesses of both communism 

and post-Soviet corruption. 

The story of my carpet is but 

one of many. 

To my mind, all Persian 

carpets have stories, and 

“reading” them is just a question 

of seeing and understanding 

their patterns in 

the right way – like cracking 

a secret code. 

A chat with Vancouver 

carpet dealer Peter 

Tolliday helped me 

�� 

understand the medium, 

if not the message. 

After 30 years in the business, the 

South Granville dealer has few illusions. 

“There’s so much misinformation out 

there, so many myths,” he says. The first 

step for the novice buyer, he suggests, is 

to go to a reputable dealer. 

“People often come to me and say’, 

‘Look at this 200-year-old rug we picked 

up in Istanbul for only $300.’ I’ll look at 

it and see that it’s actually only 60 years 

old and you could buy it for half the 

price in Vancouver.” 

Tolliday is also skeptical about the 

inherent narrative quality of rugs. While 

some are pictorial or figurative – such 

as traditional folkloric Persian rugs or 

the Baluchi tribal rugs from the ’70s that 

depicted scenes from the Russian invasion 

of Afghanistan, most are simply 

decorative, often floral and mainly nonrepresentational. 

There are no hard and fast rules about 

buying carpets, he says, but in general 

it’s important to look at the quality of the 

colour and of the wool. “Good” colour 

usually means pure vegetable dye – more 

luminescent than chemical dye – and it’s 

best to avoid hard or dull 

A true 

antique carpet will 

have strong colours from 

vegetable dyes, and quality wool, 

with visible hand-tied knots on the 

back. A modern, machine-made carpet 

will have a flat surface on the back. 

wool – but Tolliday emphasizes there are 

exceptions to every rule. 

It’s also a question of personal taste. 

While traditionally in Iran, carpets are 

sold based on knot count – the more to 

the square inch the better – in the West 

there is a different sensibility. 

Some buyers, he suggests, may find 

the new looking, fine weave carpet “fussy 

and boring” and might prefer something 

antique with a looser weave. Take the 

popularity of the flat weave kilms in the 

West for instance, traditionally used for 

servants quarters in Iran. 

Antique carpets (you can tell if they’re 

handmade by checking the back of the 

rug for knots, whereas a machine-made 

carpet often has a flat surface on the 

back) are generally a better investment, 

but it depends on their condition. 

Ultimately, Tolliday advises that buying 

a carpet is a fine balance between 

aesthetics, quality and price. 

But myself, I’m still looking for a carpet 

with soul. While levitation would be 

nifty, I’d be satisfied with a fine weave of 

stories. � 

Hadani Ditmars, a journalist, and author 

of the best seller Dancing in the No Fly 

Zone: a Woman’s Journey Through Iraq, 

is working on a play set in a carpet shop. 

Recommended Reading: Oriental Carpets, 

a Complete Guide by Murray Eiland 

Designs can be merely floral and decorative, 

or figurative expressions of Persian folklore.


If you are going with hardwood flooring 

for your home makeover, go with 

true hardwood or high-quality engineered 

hardwood because it is an investment 

that will pay off in time, experts 

contend. In fact, a forecasting survey of 

hundreds of real estate agents, taken last 

year, revealed a belief that, while hardwood 

floors add to the value of a home, 

wood laminates may become passé. 

The intense demand for hardwood has 

deepened the selection of floor choices, 

with exotic materials, most notably 

Brazilian and Asian hardwoods, now 

competing with North American standards 

like oak and cherry. 

Some purists are even purchasing 

recycled first-growth hardwood, sourced 

from the demolition of factories, barns 

and other old buildings. Companies such 

as family-owned Wideplank Hardwood 

Ltd. of Chilliwack can source such 

antique wood, or will cut and “age” hardwood 

for an antique effect. 

David Laniado, president of Nucasa 

Milling Company (formerly The 

Finishing Touch), explained that “handscraped” 

floors are now a very hot trend 

in higher-end renovations. 

These are either hardwood or engineered 

wood floors that are rubbed with 

chains and otherwise “beat up” to achieve 

a heritage, lived-on look. Nucasa has 

retail outlets across Greater Vancouver 

and a 30-person production centre in 

Port Coquitlam that makes both hardwood 

and engineered hardwood flooring. 

Photos: Nucasa Milling Company 

Honest 

hardwood 

Hardwood floors a blue chip investment 

TOP: Handscraped hardwood, shown in hickory, is “aged” to make it look antique 

and ease worries about marking the floor in a house with kids and dogs. 

ABOVE: Angle-cut, quarter-sawn oak is exposes a richer grain than conventional saw cuts. 

Like others in the business, Laniado 

notes that there is no difference visually 

between hardwood and engineered hardwood 

and, in fact, the engineered wood 

offers some distinct advantages. 

First of all, it is more environmentally 

friendly. 

“From the same amount of wood 

you can make six times as much engineered 

wood as real hardwood,” Laniado 

explained. “It is a greener product.” 

Engineered hardwood is made of 

LEFT: Yellow birch is among the fresh 

flooring options, which now come 

from around the world. 

several layers of wood stacked and glued 

together under pressure, and capped with 

a quarter-inch or so of the hardwood species. 

Engineered wood flooring is less likely 

to be affected by changes in humidity than 

solid wood and can be installed above, on 

or below ground level, which has made it 

popular in basement renovations. It must 

be glued down, but can be installed directly 

to concrete. Quality engineered wood with 

thicker top layers can be sanded and cared 

for just like hardwood. 

Radiant heat 

Engineered floors are also a better fit for 

in-floor radiant heating, also a popular 

��

enovation trend, since it withstands 

heat better than conventional hardwood, 

explains Peter Pocrnic, owner of Burnabybased 

Casa Madera Hardwood Floors Inc. 

Heating specialist Brian McDougal of 

Pacifi c Gas Installations & Service Ltd., 

Langley, however, noted that real hardwood 

can be laid above radiant heat “as 

long as the installation is handled properly.” 

McDougal, who has done his share 

of such contracts, recommends that the 

in-fl oor heating be wired with sensors to 

monitor heat levels. 

With the wider selection of hardwoods 

today, there is little chance of it going out 

of style, Pocrnic notes. “A few years ago, 

the choice was oak or maple,” he said, 

“but today there are exotics like merbau 

from Southeast Asia, mahogany and dark 

Brazilian hardwoods. Th e choice is endless.” 

Landiau, who has been in the hardwood 

business for 24 years, noted that there are 

also new techniques that extend options 

with old favourites. An example is angle-cut, 

quarter-sawn oak, which exposes a much 

richer grain. Some people are also restaining 

existing bleached oak fl oors to match today’s 

more popular dark fi nishes. � 

WIDE PLANK HARDWOOD 

Also available, environmentally friendly pre-fi nished fl ooring with German Hardwax Oil 

Sales Team: 

Hans Baer 

Karin Baer 

Manufacturer of Designer Hardwood Flooring 

1-877-795-2236 

www.wideplankhardwood.com 

�� 

Decorative laminate 

Special moisture 

control HDF 

coreboard 

Call us for the dealer nearest you 

Balancing laminate 

Silent Pro Underlay (optional) 

LTD. 

8444-A Aitken Road, 

Chilliwack, BC 

V2R 3W8 

Overlay 

Engineered hardwood is composed of diff erent 

layers of wood, sealed under pressure, and 

capped with hardwood. It is considered more 

environmentally friendly than hardwood. 

Quarter sawn 

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Direction of expansion 

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Typical fl at sawn 

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Top illustration: Haro Inc.

Barbecue bonanza 

Styles, features to fit any outdoor demands 

By Dermot Mack 

With summer (finally) arriving 

on the West Coast, thoughts 

turn to outdoor fun around the 

barbecue. However, many people who live 

in condominiums have a problem: strata 

and safety rules often restrict the use of 

propane-powered or charcoal barbecues. 

Fortunately, in the bonanza that is the 

barbecue market today, there is an option. 

There are now electric grills that allow 

you to barbecue safely, anywhere, even 

indoors. Some models even come with 

their rolling cart so it can wheel from the 

kitchen to the deck. 

Firestone’s New Legacy electric convection 

grill is a good example of the 

technology. It plugs into a conventional 

electrical outlet, but can reach searing 

heat even faster than big grills. 

Most barbecues today remain gas 

models, either hooked to a dedicated gas 

line, or running off a propane tank. 

You can spend from $200, to well over 

$2,000 for a five-burner gas barbecue 

tweaked out with lights, timers and a 

myriad of other accessories. 

If you’re looking for a barbecue that 

has enough basic features to meet your 

outdoor cooking needs, you can get into 

the game by spending $300 to $800 for a 

respectable model. 

The key is not to buy more barbecue 

than you need. To do this right, you’ll 

need to determine before you shop how 

your new barbecue will be used. How 

often will you cook on it and for how 

many people? Will you want to just grill, 

or broil on a rotisserie? If you want to be 

able to do a variety of tasks, you’ll need 

equipment that can handle them. If you 

just want to cook dogs and burgers, there 

is no need to spend the big bucks for a 

model that can handle a Hereford. 

If you occasionally entertain large 

groups, you’re better off opting for a barbecue 

with a medium to large grilling 

area – 490 square inches is enough room 

to cook from about 25 to 30 burgers at 

once. A smaller grill, say 350 square inches, 

will handle cooking about 15 burgers 

at one time – more than enough for most 

family gatherings. 

Barbecues that cost from $500 to $1500 

often have a rotisserie burner and gener- 

Large gas-fired barbecues, often 

hooked to a dedicated natural gas 

line, are the key anchor for the 

outdoor kitchen. 

Electric barbecue 

grills can be set up 

on condo decks or 

other small spaces 

safely. They plug 

into standard 

electric outlets. 

ally have from 450 square inches to 850 

square inches of total cooking surface. 

Those priced under $500 are more likely 

to offer from 350 to 600 square inches. 

Also keep in mind that, if you want 

a barbecue that can handle big crowds, 

you’ll need plenty of preparation area and 

you may want a unit that includes side 

warmers and/or warming racks. 

Heat output is measured in BTUs 

(British thermal unit) – the higher the 

BTUs, the hotter the sizzle. The number 

of burners and their particular design 

will determine the BTUs delivered by a 

particular barbecue. 

Most barbecues have from one to four 

conventional burners that, depending 

upon the model, are rated together at 

from 25,000 to 60,000 BTUs. As a standard 

of measure, a 44,000-BTU unit is 

considered hot. A 60,000-BTU model is 

blazing. 

Also consider whether or not assembly 

will be required and, if it will, how difficult 

this will be. Some barbecues are 

easy to put together without tools. If it 

looks like the one you’re considering will 

require an engineering degree, you might 

want to ask about buying an alreadyassembled 

model. Who knows, you might 

even get the floor model for a discount, 

particularly if it’s a little shopworn. � 

With thanks to Dan Vandervort (www. 

hometips.com) 

Top photo: Concorde Distributing; bottom photo: David Buzzard ��

�� 

Columbia Restorations is bringing 

honesty, integrity and quality to the 

home renovation market. 

We offer a full range of services: 

Kitchens 

Bathrooms 

Home Improvements 

Tenant Improvements 

Basement Conversions 

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and consultation. 

604-574-1580 

www.columbiarestorations.ca 

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BCSLA 

www.pacifi calandscapes.com 

A DIVISION OF 

BCLNA 

Awards of Excellence 

Toll Free:1-866-538-5577 

Local Calls: 604-538-5577 

® 

BC Mainland 

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A must-read, must-keep resource for Lower Mainland 

and Whistler homeowners planning home renovations. 

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• POOL DECKS • DRIVEWAYS • SIDEWALKS 

• PATIOS • INDOOR FLOORS 

See our gallery at 

www.sierrastone.ca 

Email: sierra@allstream.net 

Quality Products & Service At Affordable Prices 

Call now for a free 

in-home consultation 

www.westsidewindows.ca 604-261-8875 

[P] 604 599 4274 (HARI) 

1 877 599 4274 (HARI) 

www.haristoneslimited.com 

13042 84th Avenue 

Surrey BC, V3W 1L2 

604-952-0505 

Come to our showroom at: 2370 West 41st Avenue,Vancouver, BC 

Define your style with Hari Stone 

Explore the timeless design and natural 

beauty of over 350 colours and styles of 

granite, marble, limestone, travertine, slate 

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®

MAKEOVER MONEY 

Cash-strapped 

homeowners tap into 

federal funds 


It is an anomaly, more stark in 

Vancouver than anywhere else in the 

country: low-income owners living in 

million-dollar homes. 

The median family income in the 

city is slightly above $54,000, but the 

typical detached house was worth 

$930,000 as of April 1, reports the Real 

Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. 

Plunk down even a hefty down payment 

on a dream home, and your 

monthly mortgage costs are about 

equal to the gross national product of 

an emerging nation. 

According to a study by RBC Financial, 

“the cost for a standard detached bungalow 

in Vancouver requires 70.1 per cent of 

household income.” 

For many in Vancouver, therefore, 

the pride of owning a million dollars 

worth of real estate is tempered with the 

fact that they must maintain it, let alone 

attempt to improve it. 

Sure, there are second mortgages and 

lines of credit, but some owners, particularly 

older people, want to add as little 

debt as possible on top of their housing 

costs. 

That is why it is important that the 

elderly, and working homeowners making 

a below-average income, know about 

any government help they can get for 

home repairs and medications. 

Fresh money released this year from 

the federal government under its residential 

rehabilitation assistance program 

(RRAP), which offers grants for home 

repairs, is worth checking out. 

Forgiveable loans 

Nationally, a total of $384 million is 

available through Canada Mortgage and 

Housing Corporation (CMHC) for the 

programs over the next three years. 

There are some caveats with the assistance, 

which can total up to $16,000 per 

applicant in the Vancouver area. 

First of all, the applicant’s total 

household income must be below 

a maximum level as established by 

CMHC, which ranges from $27,500 to 

$43,500. 

Also, the house must be at least five 

years old and must be substandard and in 

need of repairs in at least one of the following 

areas: 

� Structural 

� Electrical 

� Plumbing 

� Heating 

� Fire Safety 

� Work to reduce overcrowding may also 

qualify. 

Under the program, repairs fall under 

two categories: mandatory repairs and 

eligible repairs. 

In order to receive assistance though, 

the mandatory repairs must be completed. 

Forgivable assistance is provided 

for these repairs, which means the money 

will not have to be repaid. 

The maximum amount of forgivable 

assistance in urban areas is $16,000, but 

this increases to $19,000 for the northern 

part of Canada. 

The forgiveness available is based on 

a homeowner’s total household family 

income. The homeowner is expected to 

own and occupy the home during this 

time. 

How to get the money 

The process of approval for the RRAP 

program is as follows: 

� A CMHC housing loans officer and 

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homeowner meet, RRAP application is 

fi lled out, proof of income is provided, 

and eligibility determined. 

� Th e house is inspected by a building 

inspector, and a list of repairs is created. 

� Homeowner obtains a minimum of 

three written cost estimates from contractors. 

� Housing loans offi cer and homeowner 

meet and fi nalize loan details. 

� Application is sent to CMHC. 

� Once approved, homeowner contacts 

contractors to do work. 

� Once work is complete, the building 

inspector inspects and approves work. 

� Th e contractor, through the housing 

loans offi cer at CMHC, requests payment. 

� Payment from CMHC is received and 

the homeowner pays contractor. 

Th e RRAP program is more extensive 

than most believe, however. For instance, 

in-house elevators are eligible for the 

purpose of improving accessibility for 

disabled occupants. RRAP is the only 

�� 

PACIFIC 

BARK 

BLOWERS 

• Free Estimate 

• Professional 

Installation 

• High Quality 

Product 

• Meticulous 

Cleanup 

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Make Casa Madera 

Your House for 

Hardwood Floors! 

Showroom Visits by Appointment 

3744 Hastings St., 

Burnaby, BC V5C 2H5 

Tel: 604-294-WOOD (9663) 

Fax: 604-294-9688 Email: casamadera@telus.net www.casamaderafl oors.com 

�� 

government program that allows for the 

installation of an elevator in home. 

Also, landlords can apply for up to 

$24,000 for modifi cations to rental suites 

to make them more accessible to persons 

with disabilities. 

“$16,000 per 

applicant in the 

Vancouver area” 

Accessible assistance 

Other funding is available, under a separate 

federal program, to handle other home 

improvements to create a more accessible 

living space for older homeowners. 

Th is program is known as the Home 

Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence 

(HASI). It provides assistance for such 

things as handrails installed by the 

stairs to a basement, or a grab-bar in the 

shower. It can also cover some of the cost 

of installing a wheelchair ramp, stair lift s 

or non-slip fl ooring. 

Who is eligible for HASI? 

Homeowners and landlords alike may 

qualify for assistance, as long as the 

occupant of the dwelling meets certain 

criteria. Th ese include: being 65 years of 

age, or older; experiencing diffi culty with 

normal daily activities brought on by 

aging; and living in their own permanent 

residence. Th e occupant must also have 

a total income below a certain threshold, 

which varies depending on where he or 

she lives in Canada. 

Th ose who qualify for HASI can 

receive fi nancial assistance of up to $3,500. 

CMHC also off ers ways to help people 

who want to convert space in existing 

dwellings to create secondary suites or 

build garden suites for low-income seniors. 

For more information about HASI 

or the RRAP programs from CMHC programs, 

call 1-800-639-3938 or visit www. 

cmhc.ca. � 

Lightweight Galvanized Steel • Maintenance Free 

Lifetime Non-Prorated Warranty 

Moss & Fade Resistant 

Call today for a free estimate! 

604-513-1200 or 1.866.675.1200 

www.shakentile.com 1284944 

“GVHBA Renovator Member of the Year 2006” 

604-980-7818 

4606

TRIMS & TOUCHES 

continued from page 46 

Modern oriental carpets 

When most think of Persian or Oriental carpets, what comes to mind is large embroidered rugs with 

ancient and mystical patterns. What’s really selling, though, says Peter Tolliday of South Granville’s 

Peter Tolliday Oriental Carpets, is stylish Asian rugs. 

The sophisticated, elegant carpet shown here is an example of contemporary Tibetan production, 

in silk and wool pile. Tolliday has them handmade in Nepal. The true beauty of the carpets is that they 

can be ordered in any colour combination and size, with delivery in about three months. And they look 

great on hardwood floors. Prices range from $40 to $90 per square foot, depending on knot 

count and silk content. 

Not just a 

pretty faucet 

Now this is new and 

hygienic, too. Brizo has 

introduced the Pascal 

faucet with smart technology. 

How smart is 

it? The faucet turns on 

with a tap or by placing your hand under the spout. Placing a stack of dishes in the sink won’t activate the 

water flow, but an object placed under the faucet to be rinsed, will. It can even tell a tap from a grab (which 

won’t turn it on). A bit spooky. When the pull-down spray head extends, it automatically turns water on, 

while retracting turns the water off. Smart, sure, but it is the design that turns us on. 

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��Home Makeover 

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TRIMS & TOUCHES 

Sitting pretty 

This pretty, woven retro-style chair, which 

comes with a comfy linen cushion, would be ideal 

for the deck, the garden or the family room. It is on 

sale now at HomeSense, the discount furniture and 

home accessories store that has outlets across the 

Lower Mainland. 

Painting memories 

Vancouver portrait artist Crystal Deshaies has turned her talent to home portraits, capturing life’s moments in 

her carefully rendered reproductions of local homes. Shown here is her portrait of a Southlands home, painted to 

preserve memories before the long-time owners moved on. The custom paintings often include pets, kids or special 

family events, according to Deshaies, who hints, “The painting can even reflect makeover plans, or successes.” 

�� 

continued on page 45 

Makeover Resources 

HOT NEW PRODUCTS—8 

Cabinet: Kohler, www.kohler.com 

Coating: Mayne Coating Corp., www.maynecoatings.com 

Hardwood: Renaissance Old World, www.carving.com 

Power cultivator: Black and Decker, www.blackanddecker.com 

Power Mop: Black and Decker, www.blackanddecker.com 

Small house: Smallworks Studio/Laneway Housing, 

www.smallworks.ca 

SmartLock system: Weiser Lock, www.weiserlock.ca 

GREEN CHANGE—11 

Restore/Habitat for Humanity, 604-681-5618 

Window film: www.v-kool-usa.com 

NEWS/ ROOFLINES—12 

RJR Construction Management Ltd., 604-251-1760, 

www.rjrrenovator.com 

CURB APPEAL—16 

Curb-Ease Continuous Concrete Borders, 604-463-5480, 

www.curb-ease.com 

Crackman Colour Seal Protection Ltd., 604-690-5833, 

1-877-690-5833, www.crackman.ca 

BATHROOM MAKEOVER—18 

Bruce Wilkin Design, 250-698-0355, www.brucewilkin.ca 

TIMELESS TASTE /KITCHEN—21 

Robert Ledingham, www.ledingham.com 

Intracorp / Stirling House, 604-228-8100, 

www.stirlinghouseliving.ca 

PARADE OF RENOVATED HOMES—23 

CCI Renovations, 604-980-8384 www.ccirenos.com 

Intermind Design Inc., 604-338-9936, 

www.interminddesign.com 

JHC Craftsman Ltd., 604-980-7818, www.jhcrenos.com 

MP Construction Ltd., 604-943-4276, www.mpconstruction.ca 

Quinton Construction Ltd., 604-618-4876, 

www.quintonconstruction.com 

RJR Construction Management Ltd., 604-251-1760, 

www.rjrrenovator.com 

Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Renovations, 604-431-0321, 

www.housesmartrenovations.com 

TQ Construction Ltd., 604-430-9900, www.tqconstruction.ca 

LIFTING EXPERIENCE—36 

Decortec Homelift Inc., 604-904-3727, 

www.decortechomelift.com 

PERSIAN RUGS—38 

Peter Tolliday Oriental Carpets, 604-733-4811, 

www.tollidayoriental.com 

HONEST HARDWOOD—39 

Casa Madera Hardwood Floors Inc., 604-294-9663, 

www.casamaderafloors.com 

Nucasa Milling Company, 604-998-3363, www.nucasa.com 

Pacific Gas Installations & Service Ltd., 604-340-9952, 

www.pacificgas.ca 

Wideplank Hardwood Ltd., 1-877-795-2236, 

www.wideplankhardwood.com 

BARBECUE BONANZA—41 

Firestone grill, Concorde Distributing Ltd., 604-855-6756, 

www.concordedistributing.com 

MAKEOVER MONEY—43 

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp./RRAP, 1-800-639-3938, 

www.cmhc.ca. 

TRIMS AND TOUCHES—46 

Painting: Crystal Deshaies Home and Garden Portraits, 

604-732-9523, www.crystalpainter.com 

Faucet: Brizo Faucets, www.brizo.com 

Oriental rug: Peter Tolliday Oriental Carpets, 604 733 4811 

www.tollidayoriental.com 

Chair: www.homesense.ca 

PHOTOGRAPHY: 

Whistler: David Buzzard Photography, 604-938-1407, 

www.davidbuzzardphoto.com 

Cover: Raef Grohne Photography, 604-618-6413, 

www.ArchitecturalPhotographer.com 

Vancouver: Multivista Construction Documentation Inc., 

604-913-8809, www.multivista.ca 

Vancouver: Richard Lam Photography, 604-617-7245, 

www.richardlamphoto.com

Introducing Nucasa hand scraped Walnut 

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Green change - Home Makeover Magazine

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