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 Arturo Alvarez (above) delivers decorative illumination with distinctive personality and a hint of floral charm.
This suspension lamp’s delicate structure is belied by a galvanized painted stainless steel mesh, which serves as a light filter for impressionable shadows and soft, ambient lighting. This, and other features in the Alvarez line (like the Tempo Vivace Suspension, above left, and the Nevo Medium, above right), can create dynamic centrepieces for dining areas or entryways and bring new meaning to the idea of lightening the mood.
Style Meld
Style watchers have their eyes on this season’s most captivating trend: Japandi.
Blending comfort with luxury, this meld combines Scandinavian functionality and Japanese minimalism to offer a design that’s both warm and simple. Clean lines and organic textures are already popping up in bathrooms as Japandi-style elegance integrates its artful approach. How to invite it in for spring? Think dramatic but simple lines in statement black and big signature items, like oversized pedestal tubs, as well as natural wood siding. Wood-look porcelain stoneware plank tiles have come directly from this inspiration.
The clean lines and organic textures of the Luxo Marbre hanging vanity and the Estelle A&E Bath and Shower freestanding acrylic tub add drama to a minimalist space.
Artistic Outlook
Though changing the layout of your walls takes major renovation, rotating the art you showcase on them doesn’t — and it’s one of the quickest ways to add vitality and interest to your home this season. No need to commit to a storage site of strange and wonderful things: various works are available from the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Art Rental & Sales program.
With an ever-evolving inventory of original works by emerging and established local artists, the rental program allows patrons to rotate works for seasonal redesigns or to stage homes to fit a particular theme. And, if you stumble upon a perfect match, you can buy it outright. Coming March 2022, the program will welcome “Between the Swings of the Pendulum,” a solo show for acclaimed artist Michelle Miller.
Peruse the gallery in person or online to develop the perfect spring collection for your home.
Lounge Away
Revive your outdoor getaway with a lounge chair designed to make every day feel like a vacation. Choosing natural materials can draw the environment into your space to create a cohesive look, while dynamic shapes will add interest to the area.
The Perch outdoor lounge chair uses rectangular teak slats and matte white aluminium to offer a modern and airy vibe, while mildew- and fade-resistant cushions keep these chairs practical.
Go Dutch
Having all the windows open is one of the joys of spring, but go one step further with a Dutch door, allowing the bottom leaf to close and create a cozy space while the top leaf opens to welcome in airflow.
These units can be operated as traditional doors by locking the top and bottom sections together, and are versatile enough to be used as both exterior and interior doors. In addition to increasing natural airflow, Dutch doors keep pets and young children in and unwanted creatures out, as well as add character to an entryway.
Green Thumb
Trade your bookshelf for a refreshing green space this spring with a garden system built for the indoors. Rise Gardens’ modular gardening systems bring veggies right to your doorstep so you can grow crops of herbs and leafy greens in any season.
Master gardeners and beginners take heart: these smart systems are Wi-Fi-enabled and app-controlled, reducing the guesswork of gardening and yielding fresh results, year-round. From a small tray to a triple-level shelf, these systems let you create a custom garden.
All gardens come with an app-enabled hydroponic system, seeds and nutrients, self-watering tank and LED grow lights to get you started.
Compost Convenience
Dump the bucket. Composting waste now comes with a cleaner, easier, feel-good factor, thanks to a Victoria-based company that has created the world’s first eco-friendly garbage disposal. The system is “kind of like a reverse juicer,” according to creator and Anvy Technologies CEO Victor Nicolov.
The Sepura system fits all kitchens, connects directly to the drain and allows users to simply scrape scraps off their plates and down the drain, where it compresses solids into an under-the-sink, odour-proof container. There is no risk of clogged drains, and with its non-food detection system, kitchen connoisseurs can dispose of waste for up to four weeks odour free. Once the container is full, it can be easily emptied into a take-away compost bin.
Micro Wash
Clean up just got easier with the world’s first multi-use micro washer to adorn even the smallest spaces with convenience. The FOTILE 3-in-1 Sink Dishwasher combines the functions of a traditional sink with dishwashing capabilities and fruit and vegetable purification.
Made out of food-grade stainless steel, the appliance replaces standard double-basin sinks with a dishwasher that fits up to 24 pieces of tableware and can remove harmful pesticide residues from vegetables with high-frequency ultrasonic waves.
The design was created for families of two to five people with limited space, and allows users to load their dishes without bending down. Heat convection drying and washes in delicate, normal and intensive cycles offer flexibility for heavy use.
