Domus Winter 2013

4 • DOMUS • WINTER 2013 SOURCE MEDIA GROUP: CELEBRATING ITS 10TH YEAR

22

SOURCE MEDIA GROUP: CELEBRATING ITS 10TH YEAR WINTER 2013 • DOMUS • 5

contentsi s s u e 0 6 • W i N T e R 2 0 1 3

2612

8

16

expressions8 art sceneColouRs of WINTER. Calgary’s vibrant arts scene is spotlighted in our photo feature of some of the city’s most intriguing art galleries

26 custom designA fEEl foR ThE INfIll. Contemporary design touch brightens inner-city home

28 in the cellarThE Cool fACToR. storing your wine collection at the right temperature is essential

editor’s choice12 an adventurous spiritA custom home as singular as its creator

innovations16 eye on custom homeshAIl BRITANNIA. Posh, polished enclave is among Calgary’s best multi-million dollar communities

community spotlight18 The PoiNT iN PaTTeRsoN heighTs QuinnCorp builds the next generation’s upscale enclave

home spotlight22 chamPagNe by RemiNgToN develoPmeNT coRP.Inspired elegance

departments6 ediToR’s NoTe

oN The coveR: greg Kolodziejzyk took the photos for his own custom-built home, after all who knows better the unique character of the home than the man who designed it? his love for geometric shapes is evident, as this local dot.com pioneer and world-class athlete made this family home in springbank a testament to customization.


editor’s message

PUBLISHER

source media group [email protected]

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jim [email protected]

EDITOR

Pepper [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR

Jean Faye [email protected]

gRAPHIC DESIgnERS

lama [email protected]

dave [email protected]

megan [email protected]

EDITORIAL

shelley boettcher, Karen durrie, aaliya essa, Richard White

PHOTOgRAPHY

greg Kolodziejzyk

ADVERTISIng SALES

al [email protected]

heather [email protected]

ACCOUnTIng

donna [email protected]

issue 06 • issN 1929-4581 (PRiNT) issN 1929-459X (oNliNe)

Copyright 2013 by source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. source Media Group agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion.

DOMUS™ is published four times per annum with copies available for distribution at select locations.

DOMUS™ accepts editorial submissions by electronic mail only. Please forward any submissions including all person-al information to: [email protected]. unsolicited submissions will not be returned. Advertising information available only by request.

Contact: Source Media Group Corp., 207, 5809 Macleod Trail s.W. Calgary, Alberta T2h 0J9; Tel 403.532.3101 Toll free 1.888.932.3101; www.sourcemediagroup.ca

You can say that Calgary is a well-heeled city with its growing number of not only million-dollar homes, but multi-million dollar communities. But is it fertile ground for modern residential architecture? At a glance, not quite; but there is a definite movement away from the more traditional home structures — especially in the upscale set.

Greg Kolodziejzyk — one of Calgary’s dot.com pioneers and who just might be the city’s most physically fit man — has always been ahead of the curve and created one of the most architecturally distinct homes in the city long before it was popular. His home in Springbank is our cover feature in this latest issue, and it is a wonderful example of custom home building at its very best, reflecting the image and taste of the owner himself.

Kolodziejzyk, a true Renaissance man — an artist with a passion for geometric shapes and nature, a world-record holder for human endurance feats — also took the photos of his home that we use in the issue. Who better to show the home than the man who actually built it? One look at it and it’s plain to see that the home is as singular as he is.

Richard White takes us on a tour of Britannia, one of Calgary’s multi-million dollar enclaves with a wide range of million-dollar properties in all shapes and sizes. But not only is it a wealthy community, it has views to match and a livability that newer suburban communities can only dream of.

Our home spotlight this issue showcases Remington Development’s Champagne condos in Quarry Park. The million-dollar multi-family sector is a growing niche in the market and Champagne’s enormous success gives us an indication what buyers find attractive in a high-end condo. We also feature the new community of The Point in Patterson Heights, the latest development from QuinnCorp who rely on the area’s prime location on a quiet hillside in the northwest to attract buyers of estate-style homes.

Shelley Boettcher gives us some tips on the best wine and liquor gifts for the holidays — or any other day, while Karen Durrie gives us a glimpse into designing a custom infill.

Calgary may still favour the traditional design of homes like Tudor or French Country, but there is a definite move for more flat roofs and wider bands of windows like the Modern Prairie. But that’s the fun of building a custom home, you don’t rely on anyone else’s taste but your own. We at Domus just want you to know the possibilities.

modernists rule

Pepper Rodriguez, [email protected]

concrete sofa from 2stone designer concrete.

We gave the wrong source for a concrete sofa in aly velji’s interior design feature in the summer issue. That should have been for 2stone designer concrete. our apologies for any confusion.

Correction


“Cassis”Sophie DeFrancesca originally from Toronto, graduated from

Ontario College of Art and Design in 1990. Her sculptures probe the

conventional understanding of gender and sexuality; she explores

the tension between women’s lived experiences, by immersing in

the cultural meaning that defines this experience, and the human

condition in general. She is able to transform sheaths of wire mesh

into ethereal confections that transcend the solid, simple materials,

into a sculpture that reflects life’s adversities and transformations.

Newzones Gallery.

colouRs

“Untitled III Flappes”

“Untitled V Flappes”

“Untitled VII Flappes”

oF WiNTeR

“Untitled III Flappes”, “Untitled V Flappes”, “Untitled VII Flappes” Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas,

originally from Prince Rupert, was

born in 1954, and he was raised in

Delkatla, on Haida Gwaii in British

Columbia. Michael’s work has been

featured in Challenging Traditions:

Contemporary First Nations Art

of the Northwest Coast. He has

collections at the Museum of

Anthropology in Vancouver, as well as

the Kawasaki City Manga Museum in

Japan. Masters Gallery

“Summer Rhythms”Michael Forster, born in Calcutta, India,

spent most of his childhood in the

northern city of Meerut. Michael came to

Canada in 1928, after he had completed

his studies at the London Central School of

Arts and Crafts and classes at the Academic

Colarossi in Paris. Michael played a

prominent role as an early surrealist in the

1930s, he was a war artist in the ’40s and

an abstract painter in the ’50s. He passed

away in 2002. Loch Gallery

art scene

“Untitled VII Flappes”

n by aaliya essa

oF WiNTeR“Krunch!”

John Hall was trained in art at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary, and

he also attended the Instituto Allende, in Mexico during the 1960s. John

taught art at Ohio Wesleyan University, as well as the Alberta College

of Art and Design, and the University of Calgary. He now resides and is

currently working in Kelowna, British Columbia. Loch Gallery

“Pursuit”Peter Sawatzky was born in southern

Manitoba, in 1951; he was raised

on a farm located on the Mennonite

village of Sommerfeld. He attended

the Commercial Art Course at Red

River College in Winnipeg; after Peter

graduated he pursued painting wildlife

and landscaping. In 1974 Peter’s

interests were drawn to

bird life and carving.

Peter’s increasing interest for

wildlife and the natural environment is

what gave him his focus and direction

to his career, resulting in his artwork

depicting a wide range of wild birds,

animals, and now, humans.

Loch Gallery

WINTER 2013 • DOMUS • 9


calgary’s canvas

art scene

Editions gallery246b southcentre mall, 100 anderson Rd. [email protected] Fabio napoleoni. december 6, 4 to 9 p.m.

gainsborough galleries4415 5 avenue [email protected] Christmas Celebration. Saturday, december 7. artists include: merv brandel, Rick bond, Fred cameron, Rod charlesworth, Rick crump, and more.

gibson Fine Art gallery628 11 avenue sW #102www.gibsonfineart.can Rachelle Kearns: Lux. december 7 to 21

Loch gallery1516 4 street s.W.n Annual Exhibition and Sale of Canadian and International Historical Paintings of Significance. december 7 to 21. opening Reception december 7.

Wallace galleriessuite a-500 5 avenue [email protected] Happy new Years group Show 2014. december 25 to January 15. artists included: simon andrew, shi le, harold Town, and more…

n Winter group Show 2014. January 16 – February 5, 2014. artists included: linda Nardelli, herbert siebner, and more.

Webster galleries812 11 avenue [email protected] CALgARY SCAPESNew multi-dimensional paintings with depictions of Calgary scenes from artist Réal Fournier. march 1 to 31, 2014

Stephen Lowe Art gallerysuite 251-255 5 ave sWwww.stephenloweartgallery.can Christmas Show. Featuring all gallery artists. date: November 18 to december 24. location: downtown, bow valley square

n Major Show for Stefan Horik. artist: stefan horik. January 25 to February 8, 2014. location: downtown, bow valley square.

ForgedShayne Dark uses an intricate

process that takes his ideas,

feelings, images, formal play,

and structural necessities into

consideration. It is through this

process that each elements’

meaning comes to life, and

can draw upon and focus on

our physical and perpetual

experience of the world. He

was recently awarded a public

art commission for the Telus

House in Calgary. Newzones Gallery

The Invisible LandscapeFranco DeFrancesca uses both painting and digital

imaging to compose his artwork, creating a one

of a kind piece by blending these two mediums

together, to form an art object. His work has

been displayed in Canada and the United States,

and is collected among private and corporate

collectors in both North America as well as Europe.

Newzones Gallery.

newzones gallery730 eleventh avenue [email protected] Peter Hoffer. November 28, 2013 to January 11, 2014. opening reception November 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

n James Holroyd – Flora. November 28, 2013 to Jan 11, 2014. opening reception November 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Planet Art gallery1451 14 street s.W.n Passion and Art: Elena Bushan. January 4 to February 28, 2014

The Collectors’ gallery of Art1332 9th avenue s.e. [email protected] After The Rains: new oils by Steve Coffey. November 30 to december 31. Reception with artist present saturday, November 30 from 2 – 5 p.m.

Dream SouthIvan Eyre is originally from Tullymet, Saskatchewan, graduating with a bachelor

of Fine Arts from the University of Manitoba in 1957 and where he became a full

professor. He was elected a member of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1974 and

was honoured with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal in 1977. Loch Gallery



aN adveNTuRous sPiRiT


A home as singular and memorable as the man who envisioned it

editor’s choice

aN adveNTuRous sPiRiT G

reg Kolodziejzyk has never been known to follow the herd, and you can expect that this awe-inspiring Calgarian — a software pioneer and holder of several world records in human endurance — will have a home as singular as his larger-than-life persona.

A graphic designer at heart with an artist’s soul and singular will of a world-class athlete, Greg knows what he wants and has the determination to pursue his dreams. His home in Springbank reflects his passions in life, and his love for geometric shapes and patterns is quite evident from the exterior and is carried on in the in-terior with playful glee.

The home sits on a two-acre plot of land on the western fringes of the city, and it is where he lived with his wife, Helen, and their two kids for more than 20 years. It has undergone two massive renovations to finally bring it in line with his dream home.

From the outside, it may seem that the home is a jumble of Lego® blocks — all sharp angles and soft curves — but there is a method to the madness that follows Greg’s unique vision.

“I’ve always had this thing for industrial looks, it denotes a simplicity of style, and we just added bright colours and geometric patterns that, I think, go well with it,” he tells Domus.

“When Helen and I first bought the property, it had a more conventional home on it — but, with its flat roof, was still quite modern for that time,” he says. As his career as a software engineer in the 1990s blossomed — culminating in Adobe Systems buying his company — the house underwent similar expan-sions, as well.

They did a lot of additions to the square-footage of the home, adding the triple garage and his sprawling workshop among others during the first reno.

“The last renovation we did eight years ago cost close to $1 million. We completely gutted the interior and made it to what we always dreamed it would be when we first bought the property 23 years ago.”

helen and greg

»

sToRy by PePPeR RodRiguez nPhoTos by gReg KolodzieJzyK


The tall ceilings, with the great room stretching 17-feet high, create an airy enclave and add to the orderly feel of the main floor.

The flooring is heated polished concrete that adds a sheen of cool to the proceedings, the three-way fireplace set at an angle with metal fixtures is a definite nod to his industrial tastes. The amazing Denca designed gourmet kitchen features Corian countertops, a gas stove, two ovens a built-in steamer, and a Sub-Zero fridge among others that is at once functional and aesthetic.

There are three bedrooms in the upper floor (a fourth in the lower level) including a fabulous master bedroom with a two-way fireplace set over the top of an enor-mous soaker tub in the massive spa-like ensuite.

There’s also a completely tricked-out home theatre in the lower level but you can see in the adjacent fully-equipped gym where Greg’s other passion really lies.

Greg holds several world records under the sanction

At 7,200 square-feet (5,600 square-feet above grade), the home is a study in modern design with a very masculine touch. Polished concrete flooring, metal and chrome fixtures and furnishings with bold explosions of colour throughout, all blend to create a Cubist-like environment that would have made Picasso proud.

“We used what was then cutting-edge design technology when we were in the planning stages of the home,” he says, adding they were able to plot the home’s design in the same way a storyboard is used to plot a movie. “We knew where everything was going to go, in the end that saved a lot of time and money.”

The art-gallery spaciousness is a perfect setting for his se-ries of paintings and photographs that denote his love for modern art and nature. It takes a moment to realize the exacting detail it must have taken to design such an open concept living room — with that many windows — and still have plenty of wall space to display his works of art.


of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association, including most distance travelled by human power (1,047 kilometres in 24 hours). He has also participated in various ultra-marathons and other tests of human endurance and skill, and is training for a 300-mile kayak race in Missouri next year.

“I’ve never been afraid of stepping outside the box,” and that’s why he identifies so much with the unconventional de-sign of the home.

Greg and Helen, however, realized that, as their kids had grown up and moved out, the home was simply too much of a home for just the two of them. They put it on the mar-ket this year for $2.5 million but it became evident that the market wasn’t ready for this amount of customization. “A lot of people who saw it say they loved how it looked but they didn’t think they could live in it,” Greg says.

In the meantime, they are contemplating on renting it out as a vacation home. “A kindered soul may one day come in and offer to buy the home, but right now I’m glad I get to keep it for a while longer,” he says. D

editor’s choice

“I’ve always had this thing for industrial looks, it denotes a simplicity of style, and we just added bright colours and geometric patterns that, i think, go well with it.”


Posh, polished enclave is among Calgary’s best multi-million dollar communities

hail bRiTaNNiasToRy by RichaRd WhiTe nPhoTos by JeaN Faye RodRiguez Forget the million dollar luxury homes, or the million dollar streets; Calgary

now has million dollar communities. Yes there are 14 communities (based on the MLS sales July to September 2013) in the city where the average selling price is over one million dollars.) In fact, five communities have an average selling price of over two million dollars.

Who are they? Belaire is #1 with an average selling price of $2.5 million, followed by Britannia at $2.2 million. Mount Royal, Elbow Park/Glencoe are tied for third and fourth spots at $2.1 million and Eagle Ridge is #5 at just over $2 million.

Most of the million dollar communities are clustered in the area south of Glenmore Trail, north of 17th Avenue, west of Elbow Drive and east of Crowchild Trail, i.e. the “Oil Patch Ex-ecutive District (OPED).” There are only three million dollar communities north of the Bow River — St. Andrew’s Heights, Varsity Estates and Rosedale and they are all just barely over the one million mark.

One of my favourite million dollar communities in Calgary is Britannia. For 10 years when I lived in Kelvin Grove and worked at the Muttart Art Gallery in the historic Memorial Park Library building, I used to drive by this community everyday. I think what attracted me most was the quaint Britannia Plaza with its angled parking and local shops that looks like an early 20th century prairie Main Street. What community wouldn’t lust to have its own Main Street with grocery store, bistro, café, bookstore, wine merchant and hardware store? Funny this is what we are struggling to create in our new communities and yet it was already created here over 50 years ago. It is even surrounded by small three-floor condos and apartments to add some density without creating monster high-rises. In an ironic twist, the lowest price condo sale in the city from July to September was in Britannia at $125,000.

I am surprised that this model of community development with a single block of retail easily accessibility to Elbow Drive wasn’t duplicated as the city expanded southward. For that matter it could have also worked along 10th, 14th and 19th Streets N.W., as well as Centre and 4th Streets N.E.

eye on custom homes


nia is with only 746 people living in the com-munity — it must be one of the city’s smallest communities population wise. It is also small geographically with its borders being Elbow Drive on the east and Elbow River on the west, 50th Avenue on the south and Britannia Drive on the north.

It is also interesting that Britannia Plaza thrives without any high density housing in the area. A quick check of the City of Calgary’s community profile shows that Britannia is 71 per cent single-family housing and 29 per cent apartments, which is significantly higher than the than city-wide figure of 58 per cent for single-family, but surprisingly also slightly above the city average for apartments which is 27 per cent. What is missing in the housing stock is town and row housing. When it comes to home ownership and rentals Britannia mir-

eye on custom homes

Mike Keho at Fairfield Commercial informed me that, in 1953, the Britannia Plaza was the first purpose-built shopping centre in Calgary and became a template for other small scale suburban retail strip malls at the entrance to other communities like Fairview, Cambrian and Mailand Heights and even the Stadium shopping centre.

The creation of outdoor strip malls in the ‘50s and ‘60s was an experiment that worked for 25 or 30 years before falling to the indoor megamalls and today’s big box power centers with their huge grocery stores and hardware stores with acres of parking. Britannia Plaza demonstrates that local small retailers can sur-vive, with good vehicle, pedestrian and cycling access, some density nearby and without a sea of surface parking.

I was surprise to find out how small Britan-

rors the city average of 73 per cent homeown-ers and 27 per cent renters.

I expect what makes Britannia so attractive is the abundance of large single- mid-century homes and large lots with great accessibility to Calgary’s many urban playgrounds — Down-town, Mission, 17th Avenue and Chinook Mall. Easy access to Calgary Golf and Coun-try Club, Riverdale Park and the Elbow River doesn’t hurt.

Britannia is very attractive to Calgary’s young “executive class” and their families as evidenced by the fact 21.3 per cent of the pop-ulation is between the ages of 5 and 19, signifi-cantly higher than the city-wide 17.7 per cent for the same bracket. It is not surprising that a whopping 49 per cent of adults living in Bri-tannia have a BA or higher level of education, compared to a citywide figure of 25 per cent. Yes, it does pay to get a higher education!

Britannia was annexed into the city in 1910, but no significant development took place until the 1950s — the bungalow era for North Ameri-ca. If you wander the community you can still see many of the mid-century bungalows, however, they are quickly becoming extinct as the young “executive class” are buying them up and add-ing a second floor as children today must have their own bedroom and in many cases their own bathroom, too. The mid-century ranch house has evolved into a mini boutique hotel or inn, com-plete with master retreat, media room and pri-vate wine cellar.

One of the other fun things you notice when wandering Britannia is that all the street names have a distinctly British theme — Coronation Drive, Edinburgh Boulevard and Elizabeth Road. In fact, “Britannia” is an old Latin name for Great Britain and in the Roman period Bri-tannia was the name of a goddess depicted as a beautiful young woman, wearing a helmet of a centurion with her right breast exposed.

Last WordCreating and sustaining estate communities in Calgary to attract and retain the “executive class” is essential to creating a complete city. Just as important as creating “urban villages” to attract the “creative class.” Great cities are attractive to people of all ages and backgrounds. D

britannia was annexed into the city in 1910, but no significant development took place until the 1950s — the bungalow era for North america.


The PoiNT iN PaTTeRsoN heighTs community spotlight

(below) With the bow Trail and 16th avenue corridors just outside of the community, The Point in Patterson heights has all the advantages of easy accessibility, yet has that distinct “away from it all” feel, says Quinn. downtown is a mere 15 minutes away and all the varied recreational, entertainment and shopping convenience of west Calgary are at your very doorstep. Public transit is also very handy with the West lRT station just minutes away.

QuinnCorp builds the next generation’s upscale enclaveThe most prestigious communities in Calgary, like Britannia, Bel-Aire and Mount

Royal, all have one thing in common — beautiful, stately homes in a pristine,

amenity-rich location. The Point in Patterson heights aspires to be the city’s

newest high-end residential enclave, and it’s no stretch to see future generations

view it with the same awe and admiration reserved for these historic first-class

communities.

This approximately 60-acre development by QuinnCorp Communities will

have the added advantage of sitting on an idyllic hillside in northwest Calgary

with commanding views of the cityscape, the nearby Rockies and the entire

Bow River Valley. It is also the final parcel of land in the well-established

neighbourhood of Patterson heights and is designed with privacy, leisure and

lifestyle in mind.

“The area is close to the Canada olympic Park lands that all Calgarians know

and love. The surrounding site will provide residents with the opportunity to

enjoy the escarpment in its natural state,” says QuinnCorp President Jim Quinn.

There will be a signature entrance feature off Patterson Boulevard that will

welcome residents to this exclusive enclave. It will have only about 73 home

sites built by two of Calgary’s most trusted builders, all in the Modern Prairie

architecture.

“The really unique special touch to the Point in Patterson heights is it

natural component. The developments impact on the site is compact and the

neighbourhood is enveloped in natural open space,” Quinn says.


(left) The lots range from 48- to 60 feet wide, and are designed to accommodate residences with three car garages. Quinn says there is nowhere else in Calgary you can find lots this wide that also have the advantage of fantastic views and accessibility. Price of homes start from $1.3 million.

(top) Quinncorp is developing The Point at Patterson heights in co-operation with Calgary’s own Jenkins architecture. “When it comes to building an executable vision, we feel very strongly that Jenkins architecture have the experience and expertise that we want on our team,” Quinn says. “They worked closely with us to develop different versions of the modern Prairie style.”


The PoiNT iN PaTTeRsoN heighTs

community spotlight

(below) People are looking for harmony in their lives, and the overall site will be designed in such a way to blend with the surrounding prairie escarpment. “We will take advantage of the topography to design some interesting hillside reverse walk-outs,” Quinn says.

(right) estate style bungalows and two-storey homes will be offered from Canterra custom homes and New West luxury estate homes. They will be ranging in size from 3,000 to 4,500 square-feet “They will all have a contemporary look and feel, inspired by the organic designs of Frank lloyd Wright,” says Quinn.


(below) over 90 per cent of the lots in The Point back directly on to green space that complement the modern Prairie home. These typically have asymmetrical massing with off centre entryways and deep overhangs. The corners of upper floor walls are often composed of glass and are recessed to complete the look.

(top) homes adhere to the organic elements of an updated version of modern Prairie design, with stucco, rough-cut stone, brick, wood (or wood composite) material incorporated into the exteriors. “These homes here are the perfect fit to blend the modern bustling city of Calgary with its prairie roots nestled into the hillside of Patterson heights,” Quinn says.

Illustrations by Decca Design



chamPagNe by RemiNgToN develoPmeNT coRP.

(left) champagne’s penthouses sell incredibly fast, as they personify the ultimate river lifestyle luxury. eleven-foot high expansive ceilings, and exceptional designer finishings are just a few of the refinements offered, as buyers can customize the entire look of their suite. “our penthouse buyers are offered the chance to customize their suite finishings to fit their tastes and lifestyle,” seidel says. building Four’s penthouses will be released soon, prices top out at $1.5 million.

home spotlight

Just as champagne is mere bubbly wine unless it’s from

the Champagne region of france, the inimitable style and

refinement of Remington Development’s Champagne

project make it a genuine one-of-a-kind find in Calgary’s

growing upscale condo market.

Champagne is an ambitious 177-unit development

at the very heart of the thoroughly master planned

community of Quarry Park in the southeast. situated on

the banks of the Bow River, residents enjoy 92 acres of

park space right at their very doorstep including miles of

walking paths and bike trails that lead to the river’s edge

and beyond.

But even if Quarry Park feels like a world apart from

the city’s bustle, it is only 15 minutes to downtown and

its proximity to Deerfoot Trail and Glenmore Trail make

it splendidly accessible to virtually any part of town.

“Quarry Park is a perfect example of creativity and

innovation with a host of amenities within the community

including restaurants, Co-op, banks and other services,”

says Remington Residential sales Manager Julie seidel.

Champagne provides added peace-of-mind, as well,

as this riverside development was unaffected by the

historic June 2013 floods. Its flood mitigation design

that includes insulated, reinforced and landscaped

rip rap berm built one metre above one-in-100 year

flood level, worked to perfection leaving Champagne

and the rest of Quarry Park untouched by the rushing

waters.

furthermore, the use of insulated pre-cast concrete

for the buildings not only cancels out most sound

transfer in each unit, but provides for a better retention

of indoor temperatures and a sturdy, virtually fire-

proof material.

It’s no wonder that Champagne has been so well

received. Building one of this five-building complex is

sold out, and Buildings Two and Three are 90 per cent

and 80 per cent sold, respectively. “There is so much

interest for the release of Building four, especially for

the penthouses which have been among the first to

sell in the previous phases,” seidel says.

Inspired elegance

(right) Russell polished chrome ceiling mount shade (genesis collection) give the kitchen a glow of sophistication. The extraordinary care and attention to detail that Remington lavishes on each home is what has really set champagne apart from the crowd. Every home features prestigious penthouse specifications including highly durable engineered hardwood flooring and natural granite countertops that give the living space a very executive feel.


chamPagNe by RemiNgToN develoPmeNT coRP.

home spotlight

(below) ensuites feature ladena porcelain sinks with framed rectangular mirror over granite countertop to enhance the spa-like feeling of luxuriousness. hytec Rockford oversized 5.5-foot shower with 10-millimetre glass and hytec skirted bath complete this relaxing retreat.

(opposite page, top) champagne’s architecture is inspired by the French countryside and boasts many defining details including Juliet balconies, stylish cornice moldings, and steeply pitched mansard rooflines. The expansive windows and large balconies allow residents to fully enjoy the exquisite views of the surrounding river lands.

(right) champagne’s lobby showcases impressive vaulted ceilings and sophisticated marble floors. but aside from the upscale refinements, seidel says it is word-of-mouth that has been their best marketing ally. “it seems that with the completion of building one, people see our vision for champagne and they fall in love with it.”


(left) The empty-nesters, downsizers and young professional couples that make up champagne’s buyers relish the comforts each suite offers. The kitchen comes standard with estate solid wood maple cabinetry, natural granite countertops, Ferrara polished silver chandelier in the dining room and Russell polished chrome ceiling mount shade.

(right) Penthouse buyers get a far superior package, including high-end appliances and one-on-one design time to create a space that is truly their own. but it is the Remington Development brand that has made Champagne the success it is.


Contemporary design touch brightens inner-city home

a Feel

n by KaReN duRRie For a million-dollar infill in the Parkhill/Stanley Park area, the house certainly didn’t wear the price.

It was cozy enough for the empty nesters that owned it, to be sure, but it lacked flow and a sense of swank that this increasingly tony area warrants.

A blend of unique, historic homes, condos, high-rises and nouveau-riche manses, a glance at Parkhill/Stanley Park’s real estate listings shows offerings from $400,000 to $4 million.

The owners of the home approached Lynn Donaldson & Associates Design & Contract-ing about a major overhaul to the home’s main living space, master bedroom and bath, and a facelift for the exterior — a late `90s-era suburban style with white siding and ma-roon trim.

“It was dated, and there was not a lot of space. The big thing was the flow to other ad-jacent areas, so we reconfigured the plan. The home had bones and details they wanted to keep. It’s now a nice blend between a more contemporary taste, but with keeping the elements of the house,” says Lindsey Tsang, design lead, who worked with Donaldson, prin-cipal designer, on the $400,000 renovation.

The narrow infill’s main floor had a chopped-up sense of space, with a bank of narrow, cluttered countertops separating the kitchen and the family room. A small smattering of cupboards far under-

custom design

served the space’s storage needs, and the tradi-tional main-floor powder room was an unnec-essary space sucker.

Donaldson’s method is to sit down with cli-ents and start at the end. When a renovation and design job is complete, what will it look and feel like?

“We talk about the needs and vision. What’s the most important part, and how will we know we have done a successful reno? When planning, we talk about what’s appropriate — we use that word a lot — is it appropriate to the house, to the budget, and to their needs?” Donaldson says.

The couple wanted a more open, contempo-rary space conducive to conversation and enter-taining, with upscale finishes and extra storage.

The kitchen and family room are certainly the highlight of the renovation packing a most impressive punch.

The powder room was turfed, and its win-dow brightens the previously rather dark kitchen. The kitchen was gutted, and custom white cabinetry, black quartz countertops, and a black-and-white granite island were installed.

To bring colour in, bright, hand-painted Mexican ceramic tiles line of the kitchen walls in lively fresh hues of oranges, blues, greens and browns.

The couple had a number of tasteful art and

furniture pieces they kept, but new purchases and custom pieces jazz up the new living area. Donaldson has most things made in-house or by special supplier, and says it is amazing what custom furniture pieces can be made for — and with an astounding array of gorgeous fabric choices — comparable to or less than retail buys.

The best renovations are done on homes people have lived in for a long time. They know the home’s strengths and weaknesses.

FoR The iNFill


In the living room, a new mantle and hearth were added to the origi-nal rustic stone fireplace.

“It’s nice to mix styles. If you keep other spaces simple and clean, we can pop in an element of surprise, mixing textures and time periods,” Donaldson says.

The renovation also included painting walls the same light putty co-lour for a consistent feel throughout the house, new hardware through-out, customized bedroom closets, and redoing the electrical plan to improve lighting. Pot lighting throughout the main floor provides am-bience, while beautiful lamps and fixtures — such as the amber glass pendants in the kitchen — “a splurge item,” says Donaldson— provide layered lighting that minimizes shadows and glare.

The best renovations, Donaldson says, are done on homes people have lived in for a long time. They know the home’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Renovations don’t change lifestyles. If you never cook, a culinary kitchen will not make you a chef.”

As for the home’s exterior, “suburban snore” has been switched for muted wasabi green stucco, new windows with Craftsman-style casings and railings, and a cedar porch ceiling. It now hits the right note for the neighbourhood. D Photos courtesy lynn donaldson & associates design & contracting

Storing your wine collection at the right temperature is essential

in the cellar

The cool

n by shelley boeTTcheR

Filling a wine cellar with treasured bottles is fun. But without a good storage system, you may accidentally damage your precious finds.

Hiring an expert to create your cellar ensures your investments taste their best, whether you drink them in a month or a decade after buying.

Koolspace Wine Cellars (koolspace.ca) is one of Calgary’s best-known resources for wine cellar building and design. Whether you are in need of a refrigeration system, or you want a dedicated climate-controlled room in your house, the team at Koolspace can help.

And Billy Carpenter at Vin de Garde can customize sleek, modern cellaring options in your home that will rival that of any high-end wine bar in the world. I especially love the credenzas for holding glassware, but the sommelier-designed custom racking systems are also impressive. Check out vindegarde.ca for details.

And when it comes time to fill those cellars, here are some beautiful options:

FacToR

Veuve ClicquotLa grande Dame 2004(Champagne, France)Fine Champagne is magical, and Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame is one of the best. The 2004 vintage is made of 64 per cent Pinot Noir and 36 per cent Char-donnay grapes, all from Grand Cru vineyards (less than nine per cent of Cham-pagne’s total vineyards.) Champagne’s grandest lady has beautiful brioche and floral notes on the nose. On the palate, look for citrus and apricot flavours, fine bubbles and a long finish.

Veuve Clicquot only makes La Grande Dame in exceptional years; the previ-ous vintage to this was 1998. Next up will be 2012, but it won’t be released un-til around 2020, says Dominique Demarville, Veuve’s chef de caves. The famous Champagne house has only had 10 cellar masters (“chef de caves,” in French, a.k.a. the winemaker) since it was started in 1772. About $229. »


in the cellar

McPrice MyersLes galets Syrah 2010(Paso Robles, California, usA)Stunning notes of cedar, tobacco, blueberry and allspice mark this 100 per cent Syrah from winemaker McPrice “Mac” Myers. It’s drinking beautifully now, but it should cellar well for a few years, too. It comes from vineyards in the Arroyo Grande Valley, four miles (about 6.5 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean, and it would be beautiful paired with slow, slow-roasted lamb. About $48.

Berry Blue Hanger 6th edition(scotland, united Kingdom)This top-notch blended malt scotch whisky is named in honour of William “Blue” Hanger, a.k.a. Lord Coleraine, a loyal customer of Berry Brothers, the British wine merchant behind this label. Available in very limited editions, Berry Blue Hanger, 6th edition, is a blend of whiskies from Speyside and Islay. It has warm lemon peel and orange peel notes, with hints of peat smoke. About $125.

Mission Hill Family Estates, Oculus 2009(okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada)Although Mission Hill makes many excellent wines, Oculus is the king, the formidable rul-er of them all. This rich Bordeaux-style blend is mostly Merlot supported by Cabernet Sau-vignon and Cabernet Franc, plus a smidgen of Petit Verdot. Look for notes of plum, cher-ry, coffee and vanilla. There’s plenty of struc-ture and firm tannins, meaning this wine is capable of aging for years, even decades. If you decide to drink it now, decant it and let it sit for at least half an hour to show it at its best. About $100.

Chateau de MontifaudXO Cognac(Cognac, France)So much cognac in our market is the product of big houses. Not this smooth estate-grown XO from Chateau de Montifaud. The Vallet family has been making cognac for six generations, and, well, they have it mastered. The XO literally means “extra old,” and in this case, that means it has been aged for 30 years before its release. It’s warm, full and yet rather delicate, with notes of lemon and orange, toasted almonds and golden raisins. About $100.




Date post:	11-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	source-media-group
View:	223 times
Download:	4 times

Domus Winter 2013

Documents