Natural touch
Neutrals and natural materials are very popular in home accessories right now, and that esthetic is carrying over to lighting and chandeliers, with designers creating interesting and airy shapes. The hand-crafted, artisan look of basket chandeliers, such as Secto Design’s Victo 4250 Suspension light (left) or Arteriors’ Ashburn Pendant, add an interesting textural element to any room. Available through Lightform and Arteriors Home
Made to fit
Contrary to popular convention, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits all when it comes to a sofa or sectional. North Vancouver-based Ffabb creates custom-made furniture, including their inviting Coasty Slim Cove sectional. Your choices include 11 components — which can create 17-plus possible combinations — along with 28 different fabrics and three fill options: rebound foam, latex foam or 75-per-cent feather/25-per-cent down. Available through ffabb.com
Curve Appeal
Add a sculptural element to your washroom with the Bubbles freestanding wash basin, designed by Marco Piva for Kreoo. The shape and name were inspired by the pleasing visual of soap bubbles floating in the air. Its modular design allows for more efficient production, as the piece can be carved from smaller blocks of stone, reducing material waste. For added visual interest, different marble colours and textures can be combined into one piece. Brand available through Cantu Bathrooms and Hardware
Feel the Heat
Induction cooktops are growing in popularity and it’s easy to see why: in addition to the speed of cooking, induction ranges save energy by automatically shutting off when a pot is removed from the range. They are also very easy to clean with their flat top and minimal details. Fisher & Paykel induction cooktops feature PowerBoost and GentleHeat options for specialized cooking tasks, such as searing meat and melting chocolate. Find local retailers at fisherpaykel.com
Designer Intel For the DIY Homeowner
Cleverly named for the product flatlays that showcase an interior design’s material and finishing choices for a home, Flathaus is a marketplace where interior designers sell curated renovation finish packages — at a price that fits a DIY budget. The brainchild of local designer Leanne McKeachie, the service is meant to fill a gap in the market and provide interior designers with an outlet similar to that of stock photo sites for photographers. The packages come in a range of prices curated to suit different renovation budgets, from “Starter Haus” to “Dream Haus,” and the specifications document provided to the homeowner outlines product details, including manufacturer, supplier, colour, code, size and pattern. More info at flathaus.com
Spring Cleaning
If the season is inspiring a whole-house deep-cleaning — or even just a refresh — know you don’t have to overload your house with chemicals to get the job done. You can replace your harsh household cleaners with eco-friendly options, such as those by Sapadilla Soap Co. Founded in Vancouver, the company uses plant-based ingredients and 100-per-cent pure essential oil blends to create their line of soaps and cleansers. Their All Purpose Cleanser is highly concentrated, biodegradable and earth friendly, and it can be used on almost every hard surface in your home. Find local retailers at sapadilla.com
Sustainable Style
There’s no doubt wood can add much character and warmth to a home, and it can still be a sustainable material choice if you put some thought into selection. J&S Custom Furniture Co. is a full production studio workshop in Vancouver that salvages wood from a variety of sources — including character-building demolitions, old barns, industrial building teardowns, unwanted pallets and fallen logs — to make their furniture and millwork. This solid black walnut countertop with an epoxy river is made with hardwood certified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which means it was sustainably harvested.
“Unfortunately black walnut is not often found in the reclaimed variety,” says Steve McFarlane, cofounder and director of operations at J&S. “The mill we purchased the wood from is located in Ontario. They specialize in removing old trees that have fallen down, or are about to, on old farmsteads. They still do it by horse, believe it or not.”
Project shown by J&S Custom Furniture Co.
