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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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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Trends in finishing details for kitchens
Sandrine Vasilakos of Urbana Kitchens shares the latest trends in kitchen design finishings.
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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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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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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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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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The COVID Effect
There’s no doubt the pandemic has affected the Greater Victoria real estate market. Here’s what the experts think will happen next.
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The Rise of the Flexible, Holistic Space
by Emily Dobby There are immense waves of change taking effect in functional planning, since planning is driven, at its foundation, by how people interact with spaces and one another.…
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Finishing Touch – A Sophisticated Modern Kitchen
For this kitchen in a custom build on a waterfront property in East Sooke, the homeowners wanted minimalist clean lines — and a great space for entertaining.
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The Soft Touch
Paired with whites and pale wood, soft pastel decor can bring a calming Scandinavian style to your space.
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All in the Family: Foxy Banks Build
Sarah MacNeill of Foxy Banks Build talks to SPRUCE about the design of her PEI home.
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On-Trend Colours with Enduring Appeal
Learn more about the Benjamin Moore Colour Trends 2021 palette and Colour of the Year.
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Ask the Expert: Building the Future
Ed Geric, of Mike Geric Construction, believes mass timber is the natural progression for construction on the Island. Spruce talks to him about the material’s strengths and benefits, and why his company is using it for their new condo project.
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Women’s History Month: Favourite Female Creators
Victoria designers tell SPRUCE about their favourite female makers and creators in honour of Women’s History Month.
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Design Trend: The Squiggly Aesthetic
Embrace the aesthetic of the soft, squiggly line – a design trend for 2021 that focuses on bright pastels and whimsical shapes.
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Statement Staircase
To reflect their personal style and open up their fabulous views, downtown Victoria condo owners Deana and Doug replaced a solid metal staircase with an open, airy design.
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A Designer’s Home Makeover
Designer Ben Brannen made some major cosmetic changes that transformed a 1980s townhouse into an inviting and contemporary home.
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Heritage Nouveau
An extensive Fairfield renovation brings a modern esthetic and function to a historic structure.
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Curve Appeal
Architect Franc D’Ambrosio creates a puzzle-fit custom build for a curious, almost triangle-shaped lot on a leafy cul-de-sac in Victoria’s Uplands neighbourhood.
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Unbuilders: Deconstructing a New Supply Chain
Adam Corneil’s Unbuilders is an industry disruptor aimed at diverting construction demolition waste from landfills.
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What’s the best way to find the right professionals for your home reno?
Designer Ines Hanl of The Sky is the Limit Design Interior Design Concepts talks about how to hire the right team for your home renovation.
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Pinterest Predicts: 2021 Trends
Pinterest, the visual discovery engine that many use to pin inspirations and plan their lives, has released Pinterest Predicts, an annual trend report that looks beyond to the biggest trends…
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Jenny Martin Design
“Details make the design,” as Charles Eames once said. There are a myriad of details that make a room unique. The best rooms speak to the people inhabiting them; they…
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3 Ways to Upgrade Your Home Exterior
An expertly painted exterior is critical to a home’s appeal. But there are some important factors to consider when deciding on how to upgrade your home exterior. By Susan Hollis…
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Home Renovation Thoughts for Springtime
There’s a lovely aphorism that Spring is the season of new beginnings. If you’re anything like me, this time of year brings a surge of energy and creativity, making it the perfect time to embark on that big home project, especially one you’ve been putting off.
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Creating a Successful Relationship with Your Realtor
Spruce looks at how to create a beneficial relationship with your real estate agent, whether you are buying or selling.
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Complex Curves
This West Coast home overlooking Haro Strait takes off-the-grid living to new levels.
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Counter Culture
We explore the latest trends in materials, colours and
tech to help you choose the perfect counters.
tech to help you choose the perfect counters.
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Q&A with Architect Christian Foyd
At 519 Design + Build, Christian Foyd brings his Scandinavian design ethic and esthetic to Victoria.
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Style and Stone
The home of the owners of Victoria Stonescape is, not surprisingly, a celebration of the beauty of stone.
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A Designer’s Look at a Heritage Reno
A new homeowner and a passionate design team bring a 104-year-old character home back to life.
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West Coast with an Edge
This striking family home in Saanich is a bold celebration of architectural and engineering Innovation.
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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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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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