An Emerald-Green Gem
Take a peek into one of the prettiest — and most practical — kitchens you will ever see. A small, cramped, vintage room becomes a magical space filled with warmth and charm thanks to bold colour, gold accents and romantic details.
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How to Build for the West Coast
Resilience is just part of the design for homes that can stand up to rain, wind, fire and earthquakes. By Danielle Pope No matter where in the world a home…
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The Growing Appeal of Green Roofs
A green roof carries out a number of functions. Here’s what you need to know before making this eco-friendly decision.
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Living Big in Small Spaces
Smaller spaces necessitate owning less. They can mean greater flexibility, saving money, even living more sustainably. They can also mean creating usable space where none existed.
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Illuminate Your World with Landlight
Your Premier Online Destination for Landscape Lighting [SPONSORED CONTENT] When it comes to enhancing your outdoor spaces, few elements are as transformative as quality landscape lighting. At Landlight, a division…
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Wabi-sabi: Embracing the Imperfect
How a centuries-old Japanese philosophy can help you rethink home design. BY LIAM RAZZELL In a throw-away culture, it’s commonplace to live in a state of “replace.” From aging rugs…
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All On the Wall
Bold prints and murals turn rooms into “a moment.” While spring brings with it enlivening colours and patterns, the resurgence of murals and bold wallpapers has been easing into the…
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Strait Ahead – a homeowner’s dream comes true
BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY JODY BECK Henry and Louise Fiorillo have a soft spot for the West Coast. Even after settling in Ontario, running a farm and raising…
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Unlocking the door – exploring novel ways to home ownership
BY SHANNON MONEO As the median price of a new home in Greater Victoria continues to climb, more wishful homeowners are considering non-traditional methods to get into the market. Mortgaging…
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Water Boost – ideas for adding water features to your garden
BY SIMONE PAGET A water feature can enhance your garden’s esthetic — and your mood. In a world where urban landscapes often overshadow the natural beauty surrounding us, adding a…
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Quick style ideas for a room refresh
The Summer 2024 issue of Spruce brings some great ideas for quick style updates in your home. Take it Easy The West Coast Lounge Chair by The Stables Woodshop Fine…
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Cool Down Your Bedroom
Turn your bedroom into a sleep escape with these easy ways to dial down the heat. Light Bedding Make the switch from heavy bedding to light, breathable fabrics, such as…
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Appetite for Colour
This season’s colour trends seem especially patriotic for this region, as cherry red and porcelain white are dominating the fashion and design worlds for summer 2024. Not to outshine Pantone’s…
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Defying Gravity – This Cantilevered Home is a Feat of Engineering
By Danielle Pope | Photos by James Jones The Millennial Batcave — that’s what Tim Agar calls the home he recently completed on the cliff face of one Victoria lake.…
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Making solar sophisticated: where style and sustainability intersect
Hakai Energy Solutions, Vancouver Island’s top-rated solar contractor, has redefined the esthetic appeal of solar panels such that even top designers are taking notice.
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The Right Light
Creating summer ambience is just a spotlight away. With warm nights inviting long stays on the porch, summer is the perfect season to consider what your eye is drawn to…
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Garden-Shed Charm
This bonus building can create a comfortable room for all your creative needs. By Susan Hollis Recent years have seen property owners take up a great reimagining of every square…
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Interior Mixology
Blending vintage and modern decor creates spaces in a league of their own. By Susan Hollis Most people have one: A beloved, if somewhat out-of-place, relic (or 10) that’s been…
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Praise for the Passivhaus
This energy-saving building method doesn’t compromise on design or comfort, and some say it’s becoming the obvious choice. By Nessa Pullman | Photos by Janis Nicolay It’s been more than…
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10 ways to add a pop of style and design function to your home
We explore 10 ways to add a pop of style and design function to your home.
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Goodbye Excess, Hello Meaning
Embracing minimalism in home design can clear the clutter and add meaning. BY LIAM RAZZELL Interior design minimalism often conjures images of cold, austere environments, sleek, uber-modern apartments and a…
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The Family Penthouse
A top-floor condo levels up its family-sized rooms with a view. By David Lennam | Photos by Dasha Armstrong In a city where condo towers are rising like crops, finding…
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Victoria’s first Design festival returns May 9-12 for its second year
Explore the city’s design sector with dozens of free events *SPONSORED ARTICLE Much like its residents, Victoria’s reputation for design is humble yet strong. The city boasts an incredible range…
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The Real Deal on Curb Appeal
Investing in outer appearances means more than you’d expect when listing a house. BY SHANNON MONEO Despite what your mother told you, appearances do matter — at least if you’re…
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The Science of Acoustics
Architectural solutions for creating a quiet home. By Nessa Pullman In a world that is constantly stimulating us, we seek refuge in the comfort of our homes — the place…
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Stairway to Spring
Revisioning your stairwell can give your home a real step up. BY SIMONE PAGET Staircases are as much a feature of the home as they are a functionality. Whether considering…
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Opening the Door to Spring
This season brings vibrant new colours, geometric patterns, augmented reality and playthings to fill your home with light. Fresh New Hues Soothing optimism is the theme when it comes to…
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How to Live Green in the CRD – Easily!
Living green indoors is just as important as living green outdoors. From kitchen taps to toilet bowls, how we use and treat water inside the home can limit pollution and…
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Recipe for a Kitchen to Love
CLEVER STORAGE, CLEAN LINES, MODERN ADD-ONS IN A VINTAGE SPACE. By David Lennam | Photos by Jody Beck How do you keep the chef happy? Simple. Give him a better…
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Transition Zones
Here’s how to make the most of your entry. BY Sarah MacNeil Knowing your inner nature — and that of your family — can help find a design that works for…
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Life Together
An “impossible” home brings an extended Saanich family together under one unique roof. By Nessa Pullman | Photos by Joshua Lawrence Living with your in-laws could be the makings of…
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The Fifth Wall
How to create ceilings made to steal glances. BY LIAM RAZZELL What makes the interiors of some buildings more impressive than others? Wall colour, furniture, ornamentation, flooring and lighting likely…
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Personal Effects: Tiny touches bring more life to your home
Plywood Pachyderm In a season framed by childhood joy comes the Vitra Eames Plywood Elephant — a sophisticated take on a toy that could double as a signature sculpture. Charles…
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Family Room Reboot
How to turn a forsaken basement into the ultimate hang zone. By Simone Paget Faced with colder weather, many of us are looking for ways to maximize our indoor living…
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The Winter-Proof Roof
How to keep your investment safe and dry. BY SHANNON MONEO Winter often calls the question: How’s that roof holding up? If a new one is in the forecast, there…
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Your Kitchen Needs a Beverage Station
Here’s what you need to know, whether you plan to set up a coffee centre or build a wet bar. BY JOANNE SASVARI The modern home’s go-to destination is the…
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Tomorrow’s Cooktop
Why you should consider replacing your gas or electric range with induction. With all the growing safety and sustainability concerns around gas stoves, induction cooktops are becoming more and…
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House of Glass
A home’s architecture plays with the balance between light and dark. By Danielle Pope | Photos by Jody Beck Aaron Baird wanted to live in a glass house. As a…
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Steel plate transforms a living room fireplace into a dramatic feature wall
There are moments in architecture that force someone to pause and marvel when they walk into a room. Seaside vistas, grand staircases and, sometimes, a metal feature wall that acts…
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Lighting for Every Kitchen Task
Bright ideas to make the heart of your home more functional — and beautiful, too. BY JOANNE SASVARI In the kitchen, lighting isn’t just about making things look good. It…
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10 Trends in Kitchen Design for 2024
It’s the heart and hearth of the home, and potentially your biggest investment, too. Here’s how to bring your kitchen up to date right now. BY JOANNE SASVARI We all…
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DESIGN HEADS EVENT: BITES, BEVVIES AND BRIGHT IDEAS
5 – 7:30 p.m., February 6, 2024 at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel Learn from the experts at this fun and inspiring evening celebrating the heart of the home: the kitchen. Our…
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From the Ground Up
Is heated flooring right for your home? BY LIAM RAZZELL Winter has arrived, and though your heater is on, there’s one part of your home that never warms up —…
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Suds in Style – Creating the Perfect Cosy Bathroom
We’ve curated the newest trends in bathroom style if you’re looking for a refresh or renovation.
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Getting Personal: A New Take on the Trends of 2024
BY DANIELLE POPE On the precipice of the new year, there’s the usual fervour around what textures and styles will be in vogue for home design in 2024, and what…
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5 Easy Last-Minute Holiday Décor Ideas
If you’ve left your holiday decorating to the last minute, here are five quick ideas for zhuzhing up your home just in the nick of time.
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Light The Candles
Adding candles to your home, whether for cultural, religious or simply decorative reasons, is a lovely way to create a warm and welcoming glow.
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How to Create a Welcoming Guest Space
It’s that time of year when guests come to stay, and that means it’s also time to zhuzh up the rooms where they will be hanging out. Here’s how. In…
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Making more space for holistic cancer care on the Island
*SPONSORED ARTICLE As a family with almost three-quarters-of-a-century history in construction, land development and hospitality, Lynda and Murray Farmer know that in real estate few things are as important as…
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Hardware Harvest
Trends, function, design and personal preference all add up to picking the perfect pieces. BY LIAM RAZZELL Ornate hardware, minimalist hardware, colourful hardware, hardware that stands out against cabinetry, hardware…
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Dining Room Details
Dedicating a space to your fall gatherings may require revisioning the room. BY DANIELLE POPE The dining room can be a quietly closeted place in a house. When daily meals…
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Home Safety, Part 3
This month, we’re offering a three-part series of tips for preparing for any emergency. This week: On November 24: Home security. Previously: Fire and earthquakes. When things go bump…
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Home Safety: Part 2
This month, we’re offering a three-part series of tips for preparing for any emergency. This week: Earthquakes and other natural disasters. On November 24: Home security. Previously: Fire. We live…
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Home Safety: Part 1
This month, we’re offering a three-part series of tips for preparing for any emergency. This week: Fire. Next week: Earthquakes and other natural disasters. On November 24: Home security. …
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Coastal Calling
One retired couple moves across the country for an ocean view only the Island can offer. By Nessa Pullman | Photos by Joshua Lawrence When Wendy and Ian Miles were…
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Dressed to Impress
Inspiring window trends will revitalize your space to create an inviting atmosphere this fall. BY SIMONE PAGET Fall has arrived, which means it’s time to swap lazy days at the…
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It’s Time to Rethink Clocks
As we fall back this weekend — wait, weren’t we going to do away with this time-change business? — it seems, well, timely to look at how to work timepieces…
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Winterizing Your Investment
Getting your home season-ready this fall will keep it from degrading in the months to come BY SHANNON MONEO Greater Victoria may not endure the winter blows felt in places…
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CARE Winners Announced
Builders association names the best achievements in home design and construction Build it, and they will come. The who’s who of Victoria’s booming construction, design and renovation industry gathered on…
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Great Gourds
When it comes to doorway décor, think beyond the traditional orange pumpkin. We’re just a few short days away from Halloween, and you’re probably thinking about getting a pumpkin, the…
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A Dream for Two
This mid-century Oak Bay reno brings a mother and daughter functional living, freedom to play and the chance to connect to what matters most By Danielle Pope | Photos by Mary…
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Getting Social with Spruce
PHOTOS BY MEGAN WILSON When Spruce magazine recently invited the who’s who of Victoria’s design and build community to an after-work social, it was only fitting that they’d gather in…
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Romancing the Flame
Selecting the right fireplace or stove isn’t just about personal preference Everyone loves sitting in front of a fireplace or stove. Despite the draw of that warm glow, with so…
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Home Inspo at the Home Show
If you weren’t already planning to go, your weekend plans just changed Feel like you need some design inspiration? Need to connect with a contractor? Getting ready for a major…
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Giving Thanks: Seven easy ways to set a harvest holiday table
Thanksgiving might just be our favourite holiday. There are no gifts to buy, no cards to send, no trees to decorate or lights to put up, no religious services to…
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A Range of Ranges
What’s the best kind of cooktop for you? Thanksgiving is just around the corner and right behind it are all the other festive events of the season, not to mention…
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Colour the Season Pink
Given the popularity of pinks after the height of the Barbie movie, it’s little surprise that one of Pantone’s colours of the fall season is Rose Violet (17-2624), described as…
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Cedar Therapy
Locally made, cedar barrel saunas combine health benefits with backyard luxury. Heat therapy isn’t a new concept to those living on the West Coast, but the idea of having your…
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Beautiful Bulbs: Plant them now for a beautiful, flower-filled spring — future you will be thankful
BY JOANNE SASVARI Bulbs are kind of like magic. You tuck these knobbly things in the soil in fall, and in return you get a burst of bright, fresh colour…
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Need Ideas? IDS is Here to Help
The design show returns to Vancouver September 21 to 24 Whether you are building a new home, refreshing an old one or just enjoy looking at beautiful things, the Vancouver…
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Get set for Fall
Welcome to Spruce Tips, our new weekly feature keeping you up to date on everything you care about for your home, starting with this seasonal checklist. As summer slips into…
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A Serene Summer Staycation
No need to jet off to a faraway land this summer when you can enjoy the perfect sanctuary right at home. BY NESSA PULLMAN For some of us, summer vacation…
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Small Space, Big Style
Local pros share perspective-changing solutions for turning even the smallest space into a haven of comfort. BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI These days, many of us are choosing to live more simply…
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Decked Out
Porch, deck and patio renos offer big payback when it comes to creating livable space this season. BY DANIELLE POPE It’s hard to think of summer in Victoria without picturing…
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Repainting your front door can welcome in a bold new season of creativity
A front door shining in this season’s super trendy Viva Magenta or Raspberry Blush may not be for you, but a fresh coat of paint is. Painting your door can…
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Architectural Ecosystem
This Island home, nestled in an untouched forest, was built with energy efficiency and ecosystem restoration in mind. BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY MATT SHANNON When Jillian and Michael first…
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Natural Escape
A peaceful Scandinavian-inspired home was designed to support a young couple’s busy lifestyle. BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG Trying to balance the desire for outdoor living with…
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Precipice of Design
A remarkable cantilevered home brings dramatic architecture to bayside living. BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY JODY BECK When Tim Agar first met Xinwen Liu, she came to his office…
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Fire and water features become inspiring symbols for enhancing home design
For eons, the elements have captivated people as symbols of inspiration. In biblical times, fire and water represented purification. In feng shui, water is viewed as a symbol of prosperity,…
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Bring summer elegance into your home this season with a twist of simple design
Adorning your space with flexible, striking and modern furniture is an easy way to pop some fun into summer. The Connubia line by Calligaris is a cheerful set of furniture…
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West Coast Al Fresco
Summer makes for the perfect time to host outdoors, and working with Vancouver Island’s climate and landscape can create an outstanding entertaining experience. BY SUSAN HOLLIS There’s something alluring —…
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Cocina Conundrum
Is renovating the kitchen worth it when selling your home? BY SHANNON MONEO | IMAGES FROM: SPARTAN MEDIA GROUP Remember when, about a dozen years ago, black granite counters and…
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Culture on Canvas
Indigenous art can bring meaning and celebration to your home through careful selection. BY DANIELLE POPE Art is often lauded as a personal choice. Even in the design world —…
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Playing with the Unknown
One furniture company is putting play at the forefront of its designs, with an eye on the unknown. The “Loose Parts” project, produced by Victoria-based independent design company Part &…
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Enjoy comfort all-year round with CRD’s Home Energy Navigator program
You deserve comfort all year round. The recent spring sizzle was a good reminder that temperatures are on the rise and it’s hard to know what we can expect throughout…
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Filling It In: New housing development meets a gap in the neighbourhood
An architecturally distinct new housing development meets a gap in the neighbourhood — and the housing market. BY KIM PEMBERTON First-time homeowners Catherine Prowse and Cameron McNab may have different…
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Playing with Design
Playrooms inspire opportunities for creating spaces perfectly suited to our youngest residents BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY: DASHA ARMSTRONG Simplification is one of today’s most popular design principles, and…
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Blossom into Comfort this Spring
Playing with space, adding layers and planting floral patterns throughout your house will put a touch of spring back in your step this season. A bloom for every occasion …
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Victoria is Emerging as a Creative Powerhouse
National Design Conference Kicks Off in Partnership with Design Victoria All eyes will be on Victoria from 10-14 May as the city sees an influx of design-sector professionals from around…
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Home Reincarnated
After retiring to Hornby Island, a health diagnosis forced this couple to move back to Victoria — where they recreated their dream home. BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY EMA…
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Bayside Retreat
This waterfront seasonal home incorporates two decades of design work into a luxurious transitional style, created to escape from it all. BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY JEFFREY BOSDET Iván…
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A Design Festival of Delights
Design Victoria delivers five days of events, workshops, talks and tours with some of the city’s most exciting designers Design Victoria is a new, five-day festival which celebrates the city’s…
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High Fidelity
Dedicated listening rooms help music lovers tune in and unwind, and are becoming increasingly popular luxury features in homes — for good reason. BY NESSA PULLMAN No matter where in…
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Ventilation Checkup
How clean is the air inside your home? You might want to find out. BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI We tend to think of pollution, airbourne allergens and contaminated air as something…
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Forevering your Home: A look at what your house and investment will need in the long run
Considering what your house will need in the long run will turn your investment into a legacy. BY SHANNON MONEO Greater Victoria home prices will likely never plummet. For those…
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Finding the Perfect Front Door
Choosing the perfect front door can be one of the most complex design decisions homeowners will make. When Barry Moore talks with clients about outfitting a home’s windows and doors,…
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Creating a functional luxury garden space
BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY LIA CROWE In a city lauded for its extravagant gardens, springtime welcomes with it a certain fervour for digging up the dirt. It takes experience,…
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Interior Refresh: Three effective methods to enliven your space this spring
BY WENDY MCLELLAN The first signs of spring show themselves — from those little shoots of green in the garden to the hint of warmth in the air — and…
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Step Up to Creative Storage
Transform that dead space under the stairs into something beautifully useful 1. EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE Having a series of drawers and cabinets built under your stairs makes good use…
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The Cohesive Reno
How a total home renovation was completed in two seamlessly integrated phases BY KIM PEMBERTON | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG When it comes to home renovations, having the work done…
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Top 5 Ways to Save Space
Form follows function when it comes to furniture for small spaces 1. WALL BEDS Wall beds — aka Murphy beds — have long been favoured for turning a space…
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Small Fixes: Easy changes that can brighten your space
BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI Mirror Makeover Revamp your bathroom with one simple change — the mirror. It is surprising how a mirror can change the room, especially if you have been…
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Labour of Love: Renovating an older home while preserving character
BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI Renovating a designated heritage home involves some steps that have led some people to believe it is especially challenging. That thinking is completely unjustified in the vast…
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Farmhouse Reimagined
An extensive rural renovation brings a 1940s equestrian farm into a new era BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG When Elizabeth learned she was pregnant, she and her…
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Expert tips to help guide a home heating upgrade
BY SHANNON MONEO For anyone thinking about updating their home heating, there’s much to consider. Rebates, the environment, costs, standards and even finding skilled tradespeople are all factors. Victoria isn’t…
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Pro tips for modifying your main living area to fit your lifestyle
BY NESSA PULLMAN It’s the place you retreat to after a long day at work, the place where you sit around the table with your loved ones over a good…
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An Elaborate Finish
An Esquimalt condo is transformed into a whole new kind of home BY SUSAN HOLLIS | PHOTOS BY JEFFREY BOSDET Ten months and 16 countries into a planned…
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A Splash of DIY
An expert’s approach to interior painting for a professional-grade finish BY LINDA BARNARD Ask the pros what gives a DIY paint project a professional look and they agree: success is…
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Reader’s Choice: the 2022 SPRUCE Top Five Home Features
Living on Vancouver Island means never being too far from the water, and for many of the homeowners we’ve featured in SPRUCE, it’s where they’ve built their dream homes. Our…
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Make home inspection part of your ongoing home maintenance
Making home inspections a part of maintenance will extend the life of your most important asset and set priorities for repairs and renovations. BY SHANNON MONEO Catherine Lord and her…
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Steps to A Reno Success
The 10 key steps involved in a successful home overhaul Maybe it’s that dripping tap, stained carpet or awkward pinch point that has been bothering you for ages. Perhaps you’ve…
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Get to Know: ONE SEED Architecture + Interiors
Creating healthy spaces that tread lightly on the planet: that’s the ethos behind ONE SEED Architecture and Interiors.
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From Dated to Dreamy
Working with the esthetics of time, this dramatic reno celebrates a blend of styles. BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG When I first walked into this house, I…
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Life on the Water
With its West Coast touches, this Gordon Head luxury home blurs the line between the indoors and the outdoors. BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY JODY BECK Douglas and…
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Roofs 101: Getting the right roof over your home
A primer on getting the right roof over your home — and keeping it there. BY KIM PEMBERTON They are integral to protecting our homes, taking most of the brunt…
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Dynamic Lighting: Make the most of your space by putting lighting at the top of your list
BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI Creating natural flow in a home is more than just the layout. Lighting plays a role from shape to function, directing our attention and highlighting features. It…
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Bold, Innovative Beauty: Pearl Block is one of Aryze’s edgy answers to the missing middle
BY DAVID LENNAM | PHOTOS BY EMA PETERSON The challenge was a lesson in geometry — finding a way to build on a triangular, mid-block lot that had sat…
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Fall Flooring Design Trends
Cozy up to indoor life this fall with flooring design trends that are also warming up. BY LINDA BARNARD What’s trending for interior floors this fall? According to local flooring…
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Gardening in a new era
As climate change brings more extreme weather to Vancouver Island’s temperate seasonal cycle, whole-system planning can help gardeners withstand the change. BY SUSAN HOLLIS Resilience is a popular term these…
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Design-Forward Mudrooms
Can a well-designed mudroom bring you joy? You bet it can. BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI While not every home has a mudroom, every home has a space that serves as one.…
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Tips for planning a home bar that reflects your entertaining style
BY SUSAN HOLLIS There’s no better time to consider how to improve your space for entertaining. The pandemic inspired all sorts of home renovations, reorganizations and design overhauls, and home…
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Set the tone for the season with the allure of a fireplace
As leaves change colour and the days get shorter, we look indoors to the alluring warmth of the fireplace. “We wanted to introduce something both timeless and rugged to match…
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The Guest Room Edit: Create a fresh, welcoming space for guests that feels as comfortable as home
BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI Now that people are travelling and visiting again, it’s time to consider your guest room. Is it welcoming and comfortable, fresh and joyful? Does it feel relaxing…
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The Climate-Friendly Home
Aiming for net zero, or as close to it as you can get, is easier now, thanks to a range of innovative solutions and programs available to homeowners. BY ERIN…
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Japanese Inspiration: Eye-catching four-unit townhouse in Sidney
A stacked four-unit townhouse project in Sidney is eye-catching evidence that you can get a lot from a little. BY DAVID LENNAM | PHOTOS BY JAMES JONES It would…
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Finely crafted metalwork from Broadwell Metal is in the spotlight
By CAROLYN CAMILLERI Depending on your perspective, metalwork is a trade, a skill or an art — and sometimes it is all of that together. Adam Ruddell describes himself as…
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Simplicity by Design
Empty nesters downsize from their family home to a condo to simplify their lives BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG Laura and Greg Dowell had talked about downsizing…
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Lakeside Getaway
A Shawnigan Lake build brings a modern twist to this cabin in the woods. BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY JODY BECK Ashley Howard has a soft spot for Shawnigan…
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Take the long days of summer into the night with the added warmth and beauty of a fire table
Amy Wilk of Wilk Stove says fire tables have increased in popularity as people focus on making their homes more comfortable — and that includes staying outdoors later. The adjustable…
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New Views on Window Coverings
BY KIM PEMBERTON Making the best choices for your home and needs results in a more comfortable and beautiful living space. When it comes to interior decorating, most people treat…
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Due Diligence: Why home inspections are the first line of defence in a property purchase
BY SHANNON MONEO Russell Cass and his team used to do between 60 to 100 home inspections per month in Greater Victoria. Cass, a home inspector and owner of Home…
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Backyard Escape: Pro tips for creating an outdoor oasis
BY KIM PEMBERTON Whether you are a city dweller with a small balcony or have a sprawling lakeside retreat, there are always ways to add a touch of luxury to…
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A Lot to Consider: What to expect when buying and building on the perfect lot
BY SHANNON MONEO Buying the perfect lot and building on it is challenging but possible — if you are prepared and know what to expect. Early in the spring, a…
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Creating the ideal digital open house
Experts agree: pandemic-induced technology has transformed the way people interact with buying. It’s no surprise big-city residents have been moving locales since the pandemic took hold, searching for space through…
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The Benefits of a Project Manager in Landscape Design
What’s the difference between hiring a contractor or a landscape designer to oversee your garden renovation project?
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What to Know before Hiring a Landscape Professional
BY DANÉE MARIE LAMBOURNE & JOHN CONNORS You’re ready. This is the year you’ve decided to tackle your property, and transform the space into the utopia you’ve always dreamed of.…
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Structural strategy: the role of architects in custom builds and renovations
Custom home project by Carolynn Wilson Architect. Photo: Tony Colangelo Photography. BY SHANNON MONEO Many times, when building a home or doing a renovation, the owner opts to not use…
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NZ Builders offers high-performance and affordability with Kompak Prefab
They’re known for being Kiwi-owned, Victoria-built, and redefining the way we live. Award-winning custom home builders, NZ Builders’ Damon Gray and David Phillips have started a fresh new project, Kompak…
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Get creative with cabinetry when designing your perfect craft room
BY INCREDIBLE HOME Whether you enjoy crafting for a hobby or you have found success with a home-based craft business, you will appreciate how custom craft room storage solutions can…
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Tips to bring spring into your living space
Interior Designer Ann Squires Ferguson shares simple tips to bring spring into your living space.
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Crafting Your Closet
BY DANIELLE POPE From bedroom walk-ins to hallway wardrobes, creating the ideal closet for your needs can transform your home. The closet is the one room in the house…
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Artful Living
Local restaurant owners turn their oceanfront rental home into a functional and modern art haven for their college-age daughter. BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY JAMES JONES When the daughter…
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Split-Century Modern Transformation
A Contemporary Reno transforms a 1970s Oak Bay time capsule into a home for the ages. BY DAVID LENNAM | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG Some say the often derided split-level…
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Expand the usable space of your home with a luxury outdoor building
BY DANIELLE POPE There’s nothing like living through a pandemic to force people to take a hard look at their space. Whether working from home, accommodating guests or revitalizing…
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Residential Refresh: Top picks will revitalize your space and innovate the way you live
Lighten Up Shed some light on your space this spring with pendants fit for the season of renewal — and whimsical enough to last year-round. The Fluo Pendant Light by…
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Planning for Success: what to consider before beginning your renovation
Thinking of renovating? Here’s our advice on what to consider – and what not to do – before you begin. BY SHANNON MONEO Andrew Hobbs well remembers a client to…
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All in the details
Functional reno transforms a waterfront condo into a purpose-built luxe penthouse BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG Victoria’s rainy, temperate climate was a selling point when Joni and…
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Simple Spring Transformations
WELCOME THE SEASON OF RENEWAL WITH A REFRESH OF YOUR OUTDOOR AND INDOOR SPACES BY ERIN McINTOSH As the sun begins to shine, life returns to our gardens and it’s…
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Office Revised
While more people are working from home now, not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated office space. Three Victoria designers share how to curate the perfect home office no matter what your situation.
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With new ownership, Ruffell & Brown has you covered inside and out.
Ruffell & Brown Window Covering Centre was founded 35 years ago by Debra Ruffell and Nigel Brown, and over the years it has grown to be one of the largest…
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Colour curation: what to consider when adding colour to your kitchen
BY SHANNON MONEO There’s a chance that sprinkling colour in a kitchen can be overdone or even underdone. Balance, as well as cohesion with the rest of the house, should…
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The New Perennial Garden: A Guide to Design and Care
Perennial gardens offer a naturalistic expression of billowing grasses and pollinator vignettes. They also offer many benefits to the native ecosystem and to us as homeowners and land stewards.
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Framing your view: window design trends for 2022
Windows — a home’s eyes — an entry to the house’s soul. In what used to be a fairly homogenous feature, in 2022, windows have become a black and white…
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Winter Interest Gardens
BY DANÉE MARIE LAMBOURNE & JOHN CONNORS It’s winter, or the “off-season” as the gardeners in Victoria, ‘City of Gardens,’ often refer to it. In just a few months, our…
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What’s in an Elevator? Exploring residential retrofits.
BY SHANNON MONEO As home prices climb, the affordability mountain is getting further out of reach. And as a greater proportion of Canadians stroll into their post-middle years, there’s a…
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Incorporating timeless design elements in your contemporary garden
Local landscape designers provide advice on curating a contemporary garden design that’s at once timely and timeless.
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Keeping It Cohesive: advice on integrating reno projects within your home’s aesthetic
BY SHANNON MONEO Ines Hanl has been designing homes for over 20 years in the Victoria area and last year she put her talents to the test in her own…
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Why form follows function: analyzing the key elements of a successful renovation
How is the functionality of a room defined, and how important is it when thinking about a home renovation? Lisa Dunsmuir of Step One Design provides her insights.
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Reader’s Choice: the 2021 SPRUCE Top Five Home Features
We spotlight the top 5 most-read home features of 2021, with inspiring home renovations and custom builds that delight the eye.
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10 Tips for a Successful and Stress-free Home Renovation
BY SHANNON MONEO We’ve all heard jokes about home renovations. How many divorces after the big job? Or, what about the 1990’s sit-com Home Improvement? Beyond the wisecracks, if planning…
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Designing Your Safe Space
Creating the perfect visual aesthetic sometimes comes at the sacrifice of safety
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Custom Upgrades for Penthouse Perfection
An open-concept penthouse gets a
luxury upgrade, revamping every surface, and adding extra touches, including some modern high-tech features.
luxury upgrade, revamping every surface, and adding extra touches, including some modern high-tech features.
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Ivo Zanatta on the many marvels of Vancouver Island’s ’boutique quarry’
BY ATHENA MCKENZIE | PHOTOS BY KURT KNOCK Quarried from the Earth’s surface, natural stone has been a go-to building material for millennia. It can be used to striking effect…
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A Shade That Soothes is the 2022 Colour of the Year
Five paint companies and one colour/design institute all agree that sage green, in various nuances, will be 2022’s “it” colour.
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Beauty in the Wilderness
BY LINDA BARNARD | PHOTOS BY JODY BECK It’s not easy getting to the off-grid Metchosin house that Dean Read and his partner, Bradford Bell, purchased in 2018. Accessible only…
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The Forecast for 2022: What Will Real Estate Look Like?
After almost two years of disruption, what will the coming year bring to the frenetic business of real estate? Local realtors share their predictions, while acknowledging the crystal ball can…
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Wine Time: Designing the Cellar of your Dreams
Housed in everything from luxury cooling rooms to temperature-controlled caves, wine is as treasured now as before. Designers and enthusiasts agree: a cellar says a lot about the person who owns it.
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Modern Drama in a West Coast custom build
Inventive solutions were required for a new West Coast build so one couple could create a home for each phase of life.
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Kitchen Confidential: transforming functionality in the heart of your home
BY DANIELLE POPE The kitchen is one of the most active areas of a home. Customizing this space to the needs of your household is the best way to ensure…
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Paper Party: Ivan Meade on the power of wallpaper
From geometric murals to natural textures, wallpaper has made a big comeback, transforming dens into statement rooms. Designer Iván Meade reflects on how to pick the perfect pattern for the…
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Dealing with a dated bathroom
Consider style, form and function when approaching a bathroom makeover. By Jenny Martin Some of the most common queries I get about bathrooms are requests to revise dated or spartan…
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Feeling into Fall
Layering textures and materials will give any space a dynamic shift for the season. Open Minds Build layers of personality into your home and step through a new portal by…
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Splendour in the Trees
Wrapped in dark bronze metal and angled cedar slats, this custom home in Sooke features striking architectural details and was designed to frame the stunning views of the surrounding rainforest.
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Decorating Tips for Awkward Spaces
Interior designer Danisha Drury uses smart floor planning to make the most of her irregularly shaped living room.
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Bringing the Outside In
A 1949 art deco-inspired bungalow in Victoria BC undergoes a family-friendly, garden inspired renovation.
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Garage Talk
With everyone spending more time at home — and desiring separate areas for specific activities — people are getting creative with the available space. One spot sparking ideas for creative use is the garage.
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Life Al Fresco
With its sport court, swim spa and inviting kitchen, this space offers a multitude of ways to make the most of outdoor living.
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Trends in finishing details for kitchens
Sandrine Vasilakos of Urbana Kitchens shares the latest trends in kitchen design finishings.
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All About the Views
BY KIM PEMBERTON / PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG A YouTuber’s downtown condo features a sleek custom kitchen, an inspiring home office and a stunning panorama of the city — the…
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Condo inspections: why you need one
Jan Stuehler of Lighthouse Inspections tells SPRUCE what to be aware of when setting up a proper condo inspection.
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Designer tips to maximize small spaces
SPRUCE outlines some designer tips to maximize small spaces.
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Taking the Plunge: Adding a Pool to Your Home
Jim Brown and Dustin Wiffen of Kilo Pools have seen a surge in demand over the past year. The concrete pool specialists share their insights into building a backyard oasis.
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The Suite Life
Two interior designers transform the underused bedrooms in their home into a welcoming private guest suite.
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Pamela Úbeda – Favourite Piece of Furniture
Pamela Úbeda, Architect and Principal at at Coast + Beam tells SPRUCE about her favourite piece of furniture.
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The Market for Green Homes
Whether you’re buying or selling, the increased interest in energy efficiency is something to keep in mind. There’s no black and white slot for green homes. Whether they’re called environmentally…
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Creating Community
Guest Contributor Sara Peddle of Western Interior Design Group talks to SPRUCE about how to create a sense of community in spaces.
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Extending the Value of Your Home with a Landscape Renovation
Guest Contributor Danée Marie Lambourne of Eden Projects discusses how to extend the value of your home with a landscape renovation.
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A Retreat for All Seasons
This state-of-the-art pergola system extends the usability of this stylish backyard
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Project Profile: the unique style of Freeman Fabrications
SPRUCE talks with Bronté Freeman of Freeman Fabrications about a custom railing project.
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Raubyn Rothschild – Favourite Piece of Furniture
Raubyn Rothschild of Rothschild West tells SPRUCE about her favourite piece of furniture.
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How to Discern if a Landscape Contractor is a Good Fit
Danée Lambourne of Eden Projects shares some questions to ask yourself to decide if a landscaping contractor is a good fit.
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Creating Work/Life Balance: Interior Design Tips for Work-from-Home-Spaces
Interior designer and home stager Josee Lalonde shares advice on creating workspaces in your home that are both practical and beautiful.
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Josée Lalonde Design – Favourite Piece of Furniture
“And now for one of my favorite pieces of furniture…the F598 Groovy Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin!” “I first saw this chair in one of my clients’ home and it…
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A Happy, Healthy Garden: Growing Food with the Birds and the Bees
Biophilia Design Collective’s Bianca Bodley tells us a beautifully designed garden should be loved by humans and insects alike.
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Design Forward Tips for your Garden
Some easy, design forward tips for your garden from Danée Marie Lambourne of Eden Projects.
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Ivan Meade – Favourite Piece of Furniture
Ivan Meade of Meade Design Group tells SPRUCE about his favourite piece of furniture.
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5 Easy Ways to Create an Inviting Balcony Retreat
Easy ways to create a welcoming condo balcony retreat.
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Take Back Your Home – How the Pandemic is Shaping a New Era of Architecture
Architect Pamela Ubeda tells SPRUCE how the pandemic is shaping a new era of architecture.
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Design Forward Mother’s Day Gifts
Check out some design forward gift ideas for mom this Mother’s Day!
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Favourite Piece of Furniture – Ann Squires Ferguson, Western Interior Group
Ann Squires Ferguson of Western Design Group tells SPRUCE about her favourite piece of furniture.
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Interior Touches That Finish Any Room
Every home can benefit from the ‘soft touch’ when it comes to finishing a room, says Paula Grypma of Outlooks Design Ltd.
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Original Art: The Jewel of Any Home
SPRUCE talks to Art Rental and Sales at the AGGV and to two designers about how art impacts a space.
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Finding the Silver Lining: adapting floor plans to a new reality
Designer Raubyn Rothschild talks to SPRUCE about how she’s revised floor plans for clients during the pandemic.
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Creating your Outdoor Dining Oasis
Bianca Bodley of Biophilia Design Concepts talks to SPRUCE about outdoor dining trends.
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