D E S I G N
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A R C H I T E C T U R E
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D E C O R
THE INNOVATION ISSUE:
Okanagan Residential Design, Build, Technology and Service Look to the Future
HONKA: PM 41835528
Definitely not your grandfather’s log home... S U M M E R NICHE 2 0 1 1
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F I N A L
P H A S E
N O W
S E L L I N G
Visit our Award Winning Show Homes Today Located in the Heart of Old Glenmore, walking distance to the lake and cultural district. Bridges at Glenview Pond is comprised of 34 single family homes with 27 of these homes backing directly onto a private park with 2 ponds and a creek. The homes are custom designed to compliment each client’s unique desires and lifestyle with the exterior architecture mimicking the heritage homes of the past.
In 2010, the Final Phase of Bridges at Glenview Pond was awarded a total of 14 prestigious Tommie Awards. 2 Gold Tommie Awards in the New Home 2000 - 2999 sq.ft. category for “Excellence in Single Family Detached Home” and for “Excellence in Master Suite Design.” 3 Silver Grand Tommies were garnered for “Residential Development of the Year,” “Single Family Home Builder of the Year” and “Home of the Year.” In addition, we were recognized with 9 Silver Finalist Tommie Awards.
GLENVIEW
GORDON
CLEM
ENT
GLENMORE
CER
ISE
CLIFTON
Open Daily Noon - 5:00pm
BERNARD
HARVEY
97
1358 Glenview Avenue Kelowna, BC
2 2 5 NICHE 0.763.7209
w w w. b r i d g e s l i v i n g . c o m
ice rv Se llFu ur O sit Vi n sig De ge un Lo
LIVE MOMENTUM We are Momentum. We strive to be of the movement, not satisfied to be of the moment. We are innovators of design, form, and function. Our multi-faceted team of enthusiastic and accredited professionals look forward to the privilege of working with you; from the selection of a singular unique piece, to a complete custom home package. We invite you to visit our showroom and experience the freedom of endless possibilities of Momentum.
MOMENTUM INTERIORS
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KELOWNA 250.979.1227
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MOMENTUMINTERIORS.COM
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where you belong
Craig N. Brown
Publisher
Chytra Brown
Assoc. Publisher
Dona Sturmanis
Editor Art Director
Donna Szelest
Senior Writer
Rand Zacharias
Contributors
Dorothy Brotherton CHBA Staff Bobbi-Sue Menard Rand Zacharias Deanna Merrick
Rand Zacharias Unless specially credited, all photos were submitted or taken by staff.
Photographers
Director of Sales
Roy Kunicky Don Jack Arlene Paulsen
Account Managers
Administration
Joanne Clarke
inside FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
14 SPOTLIGHT: Copper Point Resort
12 APPS
Dynamic company behind dream development.
32 invite in the light New advents in windows, doors and screens.
46 SHOWCASE: Predator Ridge
Twenty years of careful. strategic planning.
COLUMNS
6 FROM CHBA-CO
President Kevin Bounds praises Renomark. News and developments from CHBACO members.
9 EXPERTS
Questions for home professionals.
50 CHBA-CO DIRECTORY Your guide to all the members of the Canadian Home Builders Association of the Central Okanagan.
P.O. Box 32102, 2151 Louie Drive, Westbank, BC V4T 3G2 T. 250.768.5088 F. 778-768-9506 www.prospermediagroup.ca
56 SPECIAL PROMOTION Articles showcasing the services and products of some of our advertisers.
NICHE Magazine is published in Westbank, BC by Prosper Media Group Inc. ©2010 All rights reserved.The views expressed in NICHE are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher or staff.
D E S I G N
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A R C H I T E C T U R E
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D E C O R
Cover:
Honka: Cutting edge log structures for the 21st century. See page 16.
THE INNOVATION ISSUE:
Okanagan Residential Design, Build, Technology and Service Look to the Future
HONKA:
Printed in Canada.
Definitely not your grandfather’s log home...
PM 41835528
NICHE
Honka: Ecological, Innovative, Healthy
18 PRACTICAL
Professionally evaluate your home’s energy costs.
19 PROFILE
Perennial home builder knows what works and what doesn’t. New home builds to small renos win award for businessman.
22 PRODUCT
Transparent glass, rail and gate systems show you the scenery.
24 SPECIALIST
The best bathroom still takes proper planning.
26 INNOVATION
Containers work for storage and housing as well.
28 PROFILE
Architect designs for value and community.
30 CONTRACTOR
The English way is a good way to do it.
3 5 DESIGN
Bathrooms are sleeker, more minimalist.
3 6 DEVELOPER
This company succeeds with residential innovation.
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 41835528. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: P.O. Box 32102, 2151 Louie Drive, Westbank, BC V4T 3G2
4
16 ECOLOGICAL
20 PROFILE
7 DIG Niche Magazine is published in conjunction with Canadian Home Builders Association of the Central Okanagan.
Outdoor barbecues become more sophisticated.
S U M M E R NICHE 2 0 1 1
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Photo: Courtesy of Honka Solid Wood Solutions Ltd.
38 HERITAGE
Kelowna’s historic DeHart/Bennett home.
44 COMMUNITY
Small footprint, big lifestyle.
49 DEVELOPER
Established builder creates custom homes in Vernon.
We Build Communites... Showhome #8-971 Monashee Place 250.717.3569
South Ridge and Stonebridge in the Upper Mission 250.764.6080
DI LWORTH
South Ridge
HOMES
Showhome 569 Harrogate Lane 250.861.8989
Discovery Centre 1705 Tower Ranch Blvd. 250.491.2918 www.mytowerranch.com
SUMMIT
at
S E L K I R K
One Home at a Time www.dilworthhomes.com
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from chba-co
MAKING its
Mark in the Okanagan
F
inding a professional to help you complete your residential renovation project isn’t always easy. It might not be in your best interest to select a contractor or renovator simply by sifting through the phone book for the largest, splashiest ad, or by calling them on blind faith because your neighbor’s cousin’s brother once heard they were reliable. When it comes to major renovations or additions, the stakes are particularly high. Costs are substantial. Projects can take months to complete. Disruption to your daily routine is unavoidable. And the consequences of mistakes can be frustrating, stressful, and long-lasting. Major renovations or additions are usually once-in-a-lifetime projects, and should receive the same care and attention as other happy family milestones, like weddings. A dream wedding is similar to that dream renovation; they’re both candidates for lengthy anticipation, careful planning and thoughtful execution. To give homeowners confidence, to reduce risk, to minimize inconvenience and to maximize the pleasure and added value that a wellconceived and executed project can add to your home, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of the Central Okanagan offers a helpful and vital guide to a successful renovation, available on www.renomark.com. Renovate with confidence by using one of the renovator members, each who have raised the bar by meeting the criteria to join the program, and now proudly display the RenoMark logo with their company. Whether you’re redoing your kitchen or expanding the square footage of your home, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of the Central Okanagan encourages you to do it right – the very first time. No job is too small to call on a professional renovator. Most renovators take on a wide range of projects, from small to massive. So how do you go about finding that reliable, reputable renovator? Look to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of the Central Okanagan RenoMark program for the answer. Here are ten powerful reasons to hire a RenoMark renovator. They: • are members in good standing of the Canadian Home Builders Association. • abide by the CHBA-CO Code of Ethics. • provide a detailed, written contract (including scope of work) for all jobs. • offer a minimum two year warranty on all work (excluding minor home repair). • carry a minimum of $2 million liability insurance. • have coverage for workplace safety and employers’ liability and/or work only with subcontractors who carry such coverage. • carry applicable licenses and permits. • maintain a professional level of knowledge of current building codes, permit procedures, and technical skills through continuing education. • maintain a safe and organized worksite. • return phone calls within two business days.
Kevin Bounds President, CHBA-CO N
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dig News & Developments
By Bobbi-Sue Menard
The CHBA-CO is growing! New members in 2011 include: Knight’s Gate Properties:. Building contractors in commercial, industrial and residential in the Central Okanagan, Knight’s Gate Properties has been building since 2005.
Sticks and Stones Design Group:. Exterior design, interior design, decorating and home styling firm with experience in residential, commercial and hospitality projects.
Burland Langdon Construction Ltd.: New home builder in the Invermere region from Fairmont to Radium. Custom builder of resort homes at Panorama ski hill. Also renovations and commercial work.
Kekuli Bay Cabinetry:. High quality and competitively priced cabinetry manufactured in Vernon. Kekuli Bay Cabinetry is a division of Huber’s Furniture.
UK Trades:. Home renovator in the Kelowna area with years of experience working with heritage properties in the UK.
Lynx Brand Fence Products:. Quality custom fencing solutions, including chain link, vinyl, aluminum and ornamental iron.
Hamlet Property Services:. Owner Paul Day has been six years in Kelowna after 25 years of repairing
castles in Europe. Hamlet does new builds and renovations in the Central Okanagan. See profile in this issue.
Dunamis Projects:. West Kelowna renovation company with projects throughout the Okanagan. See profile
in this issue.
CanCadd Reproductions and Engineering Supplies Ltd.: Kelowna owned and operated this drafting firm is focused entirely on the CAD, GIS, design, and graphics industries. Fully equipped for high quality, large format reproductions and is a supplier of engineering equipment and supplies. Techlectric Construction Company Ltd.: Headquartered in Salmon Arm with a second location in Invermere, provides electric install services for residential, multi-unit residential, commercial and industrial customers. Also delivers security, home and office automation, home theatre and communication services. Lights Plus Enterprises Ltd.: Kelowna based lighting retailer in business since 1982. The showroom has a large selection of lighting fixtures in store with a broad base of suppliers and catalog options.
The 20th Anniversary of The “Real” Home Show April 8th, 9th and 10th was another successful event for the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Okanagan. With close to 100 exhibitors displaying everything
This year’s show featured a massive outdoor living show case with everything from decorative retaining walls, ponds and stone walkways courtesy of All The Right Curves Landscaping to a beautiful timber frame gazebo courtesy of European Timberframe. Those attending the show had a chance to win a wireless outdoor speaker system courtesy of Starwatch Audio Video or a $1500 Orchard Park shopping spree. The speaker system was won by Jennifer Munroe, the shopping spree by Brian Hughes.
PHOTO Courtesy CHBA-CO
from roofing to flooring there was something for everyone. What sets this show apart is the high quality of exhibitors showcasing real building products, not mops and slicer dicers. So for those looking to build, renovate or just complete a small project in the yard, this was the place to find the all the answers under one roof.
The first place booth was awarded to Starwatch Audio Visual. Also in the photo is home show chairman Rob Siddon and CHBA-CO president Kevin Bounds.
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To keep the quality of displays at the highest level a judging panel was brought in consisting of Mayor Sharon Shepherd, Maxine Dehart and Ron Cannan to rate the exhibitor’s booths based on several criteria. Starwatch Audio took top honours this year for their efforts followed closely by Colonial Countertops and Closet Tailor. The “Real” Home Show could not be possible without the support of an army of volunteers and a dedicated committee. This is why year after year, The “Real” Home Show is the highest quality show around. Beyond Audio has a stunning new showroom that is attracting international attention. The
space showcases the high tech wizardry Beyond Audio has become known for. Digital Projection Inc. will be using images from the showroom in a new international ad campaign. Industry specific trade magazine Electronic Lifestyles has also taken note of the new display rooms and will be featuring the Beyond Audio showroom.
PHOTO BY Darlene Atkinson
Owner Mike Ohman looked for the new home for Beyond Audio in downtown Kelowna for five years, “I didn’t want industrial because I was looking for a live, work space.” Beyond Audio has been installing home automation, home cinema, hospitality and corporate services, wiring and security monitoring for 16 years. Mike and his seven staff members have worked on projects from single family residential to the B.C. Canada house at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. Homeowners and contractors can find out what the international buzz is about at 1324 St. Paul Street in Kelowna. CHBA-CO members FortisBC and Coast Wholesale Appliances want FortisBC customers and homeowners to air their clean laundry. Email your best photo of clean laun-
Atkinson entered this photo in the Laundry Lines contest. She dries all of her family’s diapers and clothing on a line during the summer months.
dry drying on the line to FortisBC and you could win an ENERGYSTAR appliance package courtesy of FortisBC and Coast Wholesale Appliances. The contest ends August 31, and the randomly drawn winner will receive an appliance package worth almost $3000. The contest photos are posted on the FortisBC Flickr group. For more info visit www.fortisbc.com.
Gienow Windows is moving into the Marshall Business Park this summer. Brisk business has kept
the company growing. “The new facility will be more than double the size of our current one and will feature a vastly improved showroom and warehousing,” says Shaun Weimer with Gienow. “This will allow Gienow to show our expansive product lines in a professional manner.”
The 3000+ square feet of showroom will be one of the largest window and door showrooms in the BC interior. Additionally, the increased warehouse space will allow for more efficient shipping and service storage.
Homeowners and renovators take note. If you’re planning some kitchen upgrades or dreaming about new appliances, now is a good time to invest in energy efficient models. Not only will you be eligible for new rebates from FortisBC, but you’ll also be saving money over the long term.
The staff at Gienow’s
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In fact, your old appliances may be costing you more than you realize. Appliances come with two price tags – the purchase price and the long term cost to operate. With appliances accounting for about 15 per cent of your overall electricity consumption, the cost to operate is worth some attention. When shopping for new appliances, look at the EnerGuide label which will help you understand the average energy consumption for each model, as well as how it compares to different models. It’s also important to look for the ENERGY STAR logo – appliances with this logo are more energy efficient, cost less to run and may qualify for rebates. A new ENERGY STAR appliance uses up to 80 per cent less energy to operate compared with 20 year old models. This means it may be more affordable to replace your old appliances than N continue using them.
dig
experts
questionsfor home professionals Q.
BY BOBBI-SUE MENARD
What air conditioner maintenance can a home owner do prior to summer?
A. There is very little maintenance a home owner can do on their air conditioning system.
Ron Klevan Sales Consultant, Ace Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning
The first thing to do before you use your air conditioner is make sure the unit outside is not covered up. If you use a winter cover make sure it is removed. Also make sure there is nothing around the unit that will obstruct the air flow in and out of the unit. The most important thing a homeowner can do is make sure the filters in the furnace inside the home are clean and replaced if necessary. Filters should be replaced once a month if they are disposable and cleaned every three months if they are reusable. Make sure your thermostat is set to the cooling mode instead of the heating mode. Run your air conditioner before you need it to be certain it works properly. It is better to find out early if there are problems, rather than when it is really hot and you have to wait for a technician when it is extremely busy. Have a certified technician service your air conditioners once a year before the cooling season starts. The technician will do all of the required maintenance.
Specializing in Custom Home Design 3D Renderings Color Renderings Stock Plans Subdivision Development (Residential)
...Make your dreams reality! 250-717-3415 1964 Dayton Street, Kelowna BC
www.mullinshomedesigns.ca
NICHE PMG-5542 Mullins Ad.indd 1
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11-03-03 9:08 AM
experts continued from page 9
Q.
What should you never forget to do before you leave for summer holidays?
A. Turn off your water. If you are gone for an extended period of time and your water
breaks it will run the entire time you are gone or until someone checks on your home. Winmar has seen homes where the water has run for months.
As a part of taking care of your water, tie an orange ribbon to the main shut off valve. You should always know where your water shut off is, and have it easy to find for others.
Check the motion sensor lights around your home, especially in the more private places. Vandalism to motion sensors is common, make sure your lights will turn on while you are gone.
Don’t forget about wind. Take a good look around your yard before you leave, especially at heavy tree branches. Have a professional come and clean up the trees for safety.
Remember disaster always happens when you don’t expect it. Take a copy of your home insurance and key contacts with you when you travel. Make certain you are insured, it is a tragedy when in a disaster people are not insured and they lose everything. A basic policy can be inexpensive and is the difference between starting over from nothing or with resources.
Jay Rhode General Manager, Winmar Property Restoration Specialists
Style & Shade FOR YOUR OUTDOOR RETREAT
SunValley awnings
tM
Custom, quality retractable awnings and screens
Your local dealer for SunValley Awnings TM Providing the Okanagan with shade for over 40 years
(250) 860-6628
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www.valleycanvas.com
experts
Q.
What outdoor masonry products such as pavers, retaining walls, etc. are most in demand now?
A. The BURNCO Landscape Centre in West Kelowna, one of 12 operating in Alberta
and BC, opened its doors in June, 2007. It offers its retail and contractor customers a wide variety of natural and decorative stone, soils and mulches, retaining wall blocks/paving stones, delivery service and much more for all landscaping needs.
Casey Calla Kelowna Landscape Centre, BURNCO Rock Products Ltd.
Trending now in the industry for paving stones is the natural look. Manufacturers are creating the look and feel of real stone finishes used for decks, patios, sidewalks and pool surrounds. The unique profiles and colour options have the appearance of natural stone at a fraction of the cost. The same look is also being used in brand new retaining wall blocks, precast slabs and steps. The richness of shapes being made are inspired by and modeled after natural stones. Not to be outdone and still very popular is the European charm of the tumbled paving stone and retaining walls which gives the soft look of a hand-hewn stone. Colour options for all of these vary but the most sought after today seem to be blends of earthy tones such as beiges, browns, tan with hints of charcoal colouring.
N
WANT THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHTING FOR YOUR PROJECT? w w w . d e s i g n i n g w i t h light .c a Come on into the Okanagan’s most innovative lighting lab and let us take you through our virtual showroom. Specializing in sustainable energy efficient and L.E.D. lighting. Let certified Lighting Consultant Mike Bentien C.L.C., L.S. (one of only two in Canada and with 28 years of experience) do your lighting layout ahead of time, saving you time, money and costly mistakes.
MORE SELECTION over 110 lighting companies
Saving you money with our virtual showroom. MEMBER OF CHBA
experts
.
Call to make your appointment today! 250.862.3671 Mike Bentien, C.L.C. L.S.
#2-961 Laurel Ave., Kelowna designingwithlight@shaw.ca
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APPS:
TRAIL APPLIANCES
OUTDOOR
BBQs
become
MORE sophisticated An appliance to fit every style and budget
BY BOBBI-SUE MENARD
I
n the not too distant past, the round charcoal grill on the back patio was the standard Canadian BBQ experience. Times have changed. Home owners can choose a complete outdoor kitchen stocked with the latest appliances specifically designed to withstand the elements in style. The storied Okanagan climate inspires thoughts of comfortable time spent outdoors. It is practical built-in natural gas hookups that have spurred outdoor BBQ choices and design to a surprising degree says Terry Volden, store and building manager for Trail Appliances in Kelowna. “Permanent hook-ups allow people to create a full backyard kitchen.” Volden has been in the appliance industry for years and explains that freestanding and built-in BBQs have become more elaborate with the better household infrastructure. Auxiliary appliances including refrigeration, hot and cold storage drawers, free standing cooking islands, even sear stations are now simple to include in outdoor kitchen design. “It is so convenient to have a kitchen space outside. You might have a pool, a great view, or just enjoy entertaining. If you have the wherewithal, you can be quite extravagant or choose something that fits your budget,” says Volden. Cart BBQs remain the most popular option. The appliance is budget friendly and simple to bring home. Manufacturers have worked hard to provide such a wide variety of price points, specialty products and BBQ functions. Volden says that effort by the manufacturer has paid off for the consumer
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who can find a backyard appliance to fit every style of grilling and budget. There is a definite trend towards built-in BBQs for outdoor kitchen spaces. The island surrounding the BBQ can be designed to act as a functional piece of equipment with warming trays, tubs to hold ice, cooling drawers, sinks, wine and beverage centers and storage. Creating an efficient and safe outdoor kitchen space requires planning. Municipalities have permitting bylaws to take into account. Prudence is recomended, says Volden. “Some of the BBQ units can go over 100,000 BTU.” Many clients choose to work with a designer, especially for high end projects and properties. The outdoor appliance market is mature in that quality and longevity have been achieved with reputable manufacturers who specialize in outdoor equipment. People who actively enjoy entertaining and an outdoor lifestyle are driving the trend says Volden. “The number one reason people choose an outdoor BBQ is they want to share a glass of wine and a good meal outdoors.”
Trust the experts for:
Group Insurance
Keyman and Buysell Insurance Commercial Insurance Ryan Griffith, Agent 111 - 1301 Main Street Penticton, BC V2A 5E9 250-493-2999 ryan_griffith@cooperators.ca
Dennis Macleod, Agent/Owner #120-1640 Leckie Rd Kelowna, BC V1X 7C6 250-861-3777 dennis_macleod@cooperators.ca
www.cooperators.ca
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apps
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SPOTLIGHT:
COPPER POINT RESORT
COMPANY behind
DYNAMIC
dreamdevelopment The Rohit Group brings luxe resort and jobs to Columbia Valley By dorothy brotherton
C
anadians are discovering their dream getaway may not be down south after all. After a rush across the border to snap up cheap resort properties during the last few years, we’re pausing to look closer to home. Nowhere is that more evident than at Copper Point Resort, tucked in the Columbia Valley between the Purcell and Canadian Rocky Mountains. Going cross-border for vacation properties, Canadians found they had to deal with health insurance costs, excessive travel times with spiraling costs, and that dream condo was just too far away for a quick weekend escape. Copper Point Resort, the premier B.C. project of the Rohit Group of Companies, is in our neighbourhood. The resort overlooks a destination golf course and offers easy access to skiing. Picturesque Lake Windermere provides full lake recreation and inspiration. The resort almost didn’t make it to reality. Started in 2005, the project fell to the swath of a struggling economy. Rohit purchased it out of receivership in 2009, and crews got going in spring 2010. Opening this spring are 106 suites, which equals 203 hotel rooms. Ninety-seven suites are described as lock-offs. That means an owner can use the entire suite or bring friends to occupy the lock-off suite or even rent it to other vacationers. With resort management firm Atlisic, Copper Point boasts the amenities of a five-star hotel–full service spa, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, fitness facilities, restaurant and lounge. Expected to be especially popular are the three high-tech banquet rooms. “People are meeting differently these days, e.g. strategy meetings where 10 to 15 executives put together blueprints or budgets. Those glorious views will regenerate creative thought,” said Michellene Kandert, director of public relations and brand development for Rohit. The high-tech facilities provide a think-tank scenario. Kandert noted the area had experienced consumer erosion, so the new jobs at Copper Point Resort are hands-down welcome. “It’s bringing so much hope and opportunity to the valley,” she said. That’s 55 jobs at opening and 110 in a few years at peak times, with
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65 to 70 in off-seasons. “It will bring a lot of business–not just our business–but to the golf course, cafes and adventure tours of the area.” Rohit Communities tell a fairy-tale success story. It recently ranked 25th of Alberta’s top 50 fastest growing companies. Copper Point Resort brought home three gold Tommie awards this year from the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Okanagan, and a national CHBA award. Rohit was named Edmonton’s 2010 and 2011 Home Builder of the Year, and featured on CTV’s Showhome Parade. It all started in 1986, when Rohit took off from small home builder status and grew into a diversified organization handling residential and land development, commercial assets and real estate lending. Rohit Group skyrocketed into position as an industry leader. They do it all: Design, develop, finance, manage and market. The vision of the Rohit Group is somewhat unabashed: It aims to be the premiere real estate company in Western Canada. It starts to look believable when you see the talent pool Rohit has pulled together. Radhe Gupta, CEO and president, started and oversees the company, and pushes his vision into developing new markets. He was recently named to Ernst & Young’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year Prairie Region Finalists. He says the Rohit Group is “striving to exceed our clients’ expectations, to be fair, plus a little bit more.” That “little bit more” may be the key to Rohit success.
Russell Dauk is vice-president of the land and communities division, bringing 16 years of experience. Rohit Gupta, chief financial officer, handles Fort McMurray and Kelowna residential construction operations, as well as Rohit Capital. Amit Shah is senior project manager, oversees buying of materials and services, does resource planning and defines productions targets. Rocky Sethi manages the Okanagan region and is a Built Green builder, meaning he really knows how to build in harmony with the environment. Rick Shaver manages Edmonton and area operations, and Charles Schwarz, Fort McMurray interests. Krishna Gupta supervises product development and is a driving force behind designs and innovations. Her passion is Rohit Charities. The charity thrust, established in 2004, clearly has that “little bit more.” Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation has become the major charity. Radhe and Krishna Gupta set up the Neal Gupta Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology in memory of their infant son. This so clearly comes not from corporate obligation, but from the compassion of their hearts. The Guptas are Diamond sponsors of the Stollery’s annual Snowflake Gala fundraiser. As well, Rohit supports a hospital and school in Joura, India, Radhe Gupta’s hometown. Annually, deserving families in the Edmonton region are helped to enjoy Christmas. That “little bit more” keeps coming, seen from Copper Point Resort to Joura, India, in the activities of a company that’s helping N dreams come true.
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GENUINE LUXURY BRAND OF LIVING
I
magine living in an attractive wooden home that actually improves your health. Now imagine having it created by an established company that started over 50 years ago and has built homes in 40 countries around the world.
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Honka Solid Wood Solutions Ltd. Kevin Mitchell 250-306-7775 Felix Westerkamp 250-878-7846 Unit 210, 2000 Spall Rd., Kelowna, BC www.honka.ca www.honka.com info@honka.ca NICHE
Summerland will be using our new patented groove and curve notch that virtually eliminates compression issues that other massive wood homes systems still suffer from time to time. “The Honka wood system is the world’s finest and most advanced system of green home building in today’s market, and completely flexible to work, and mesh, with other building mediums in the process we call ‘Honkafusion’. We believe that Honka is the only massive wood design system with the European Union’s stamp of approval on harvesting, drying and construction applications.”
Honka was born in 1958 when the five Saarelainen brothers dreamed of building massive wooden homes, cabins, offices and even castles. Many of these properties are owned by people from all walks of life including celebrities, sporting professionals, royalty and successful business owners. Now, the esteemed company comes to Canada represented by Honka Solid Wood Solutions Ltd. of Kelowna. Every original home is green-focussed by instantly becoming a ‘carbon sink’ and can actually improve the health of its occupants by retaining the perfect balance of humidity for human beings and moderating the symptoms of asthma and allergic conditions many of people develop when living in musty, poorly ventilated, mould producing, or simply, toxic homes. The Honka mission statement: “We promise that every house we build is healthy. It breathes, lasts, keeps the room air humidity optimal, is aesthetically and acoustically inspiring and at the same time, relaxing. A genuine wood house is safe to own and to live in. Our way of doing business with both customers and partners is also genuine. This is why we are able to say, ‘Well being starts with a genuine wood house.’”
The Honka enterprise is constantly working on research and development, creating a more effective and beneficial product to consumers around the world. The natural application of massive wood allows for the instant benefit of a home being a ‘carbon sink,” which means that the lumber used in it has gobbled up CO2 components over the course of the trees’ forest lives, but also acts as a sink during the home’s life time. A Honka residence will last for generations–not just over a life span. Honka homes can be designed to fit into any urban surrounding and compliment any building scheme. Developers will appreciate the consistency, quality, speed of reassembly and the company’s ability to deliver any number of projects. Also, a Honka project solution is perfect for remote areas where time and short building seasons are a concern. For more in-depth video and information go to www.honka.ca. (Next issue: The short ten day process of constructing Honka walls on the Summerland Lakeshore project.)
Here in the Okanagan, the two owners of Honka Solid Wood Solutions are Felix Westerkamp and Kevin Mitchell. Westerkamp was an architect for Honka in Germany many years ago, and Mitchell has been working in the construction and especially the log building industry for decades. This seemingly fated partnership has seen the beginning of Honka-built homes in western Canada. Over the course of the next three issues of Niche–we will be seeing the process of a home being built using the Honka design procedures–a process that has been witnessed, certified and stamped with approvals from people of all walks of life. “We’re looking forward to demonstrating our process of building with local contractors, developers and builders,” states Mitchell, “and a new project in
®
www.honka.com NICHE
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practical:
home energy assessment
the
greentest
Professionally evaluate your home’s energy costs for renovation by CHBA Staff
N
atural Resources Canada licenses independent home energy advisors who offer home energy assessment services across Canada. The home energy assessment is a professional evaluation of your home’s heating, hot water and ventilation systems, insulation and air leakage. Specially trained advisors carry out this evaluation. The process involves a careful assessment of your home’s energy systems and their performance. Advisors use computer software modeling and their own experience to assess performance and propose the best upgrade options for your home. The home energy advisor will explain the results of the assessment and point out where efficiency improvements can be made cost effectively. As well, you will receive a written report on the evaluation results. Your home energy assessment report will highlight how your home can be improved to reduce energy costs and improve comfort. This information can be particularly valuable as you set your renovation priorities and meet with contractors.
How the Home Energy Assessment Works
Your home energy advisor will conduct a walk-through assessment of your home to gather information on all components and equipment that can affect energy efficiency. This data is then analyzed using the ERS computer program developed by Natural Resources Canada. The condition of your home, your heating system, local climate conditions and energy costs are all factored into this analysis. As part of the assessment, the advisor also performs a blower door test which measures the amount of uncontrolled air leakage in your home. During the test, the advisor will show you the exact points in your home where significant air leaks exist so that you will know where caulking and sealing are needed. When the assessment is completed, the advisor will explain the results and answer any questions you have. Your written home energy assessment report will suggest cost-effective improvements that will increase your home’s energy efficiency, reduce energy bills and increase your home comfort. You will also receive an ERS rating label for your home that shows how its energy efficiency compares with other homes.
The ERS Computer Analysis
More than 20 years of research by Natural Resources Canada led to the development of the ERS computer program that licensed home energy advisors use to produce an accurate analysis of your
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home’s energy efficiency. The analysis considers the many different factors that can affect your home’s energy efficiency, including: • heating and air conditioning equipment • ventilation equipment domestic hot water systems • • the rate of air leakage or infiltration • air/vapour barriers • insulation levels The software models the energy performance of the home based on standard operating conditions and determines its rating. The advisor’s expertise combined with the software’s modeling options help to identify the most effective way to deal with any home comfort problems while reducing your home’s energy consumption and heating costs.
The ERS Blower Door Test
To perform a thorough energy efficiency assessment of your home, licensed home energy advisors use specially designed blower door test equipment to measure your home’s rate of air leakage. The blower door is a variable-speed fan mounted on an adjustable panel that can fit into any exterior door opening of your home. When the advisor turns the fan on, air is drawn through your home at a constant speed to allow outside air to flow in through unsealed openings or cracks in the house structure. Pressure sensors connected to the fan measure the rate of airflow required to keep your home at a constant pressure, allowing the advisor to measure the amount of air leakage taking place.
The Home Energy Assessment Report
Your home assessment report is an important tool for improving the energy efficiency of your home through properly planned upgrades and renovations. In the report you will find a breakdown of the amount of energy used for space heating, water heating, lighting and appliances an estimate of where energy is lost throughout your home (basement, windows, doors, main walls and ceiling, etc). This lets you see where energy upgrades would be most effective. It will also outline your home’s current ERS rating and the rating you can expect if you complete all the recommended improvements. Your energy advisor will go through the report with you to explain all the recommended improvements. At the same time they will answer any questions you may have regarding the results of the assessment, the ERS rating your home achieved and any aspects of N the assessment.
PROFILE:
JAZEL HOMES
perennial
homebuilder by BOBBI-SUE MENARD
A custom Jazel interior
Knowing what works and what doesn’t
J
ourneyman carpenter was a natural progression from growing up in a logging family for James Zeleznik. He arrived in Kelowna in 1980 and achieved his journeyman ticket in 1984. This was in the mid 1980s after getting laid off from a work site yet again in an economy that seemed permanently stuck in sluggish mode that Zeleznik decided to start building on his own. Since 1988 Zeleznik’s company Jazel Homes has been building in the Central Okanagan. Jazel Homes averages about 25 single family homes per year. “Sometimes more, sometimes less,” says Zeleznik. “We’ve managed to stay in business through two market downturns so far; this is the third downturn and we are still building.” Multi-family units are a part of the Jazel portfolio; their current project is Tesoro Arca in West Kelowna with a total of 80 units in the plan. “We have a couple of custom homes on the go at any one time,” adds Zeleznik. Current single family projects include a custom home in Osoyoos, several homes in Talus Ridge in West Kelowna and Stonewater on the Lake, an eight single- family home development on the water in Peachland. Jazel has worked with homes in every price point from the starter home to the dream home. “Most of our work is with home buyers on their second or third home. We are building what the customer wants,” says Zeleznik. Zeleznik says walking through each step of the process with the customer is invaluable from viewing the lot to handing over the keys. The company encourages its customers to be involved in the process of building the new home. After countless conversations with customers over the years Zeleznik feels customers should have a good understanding of what is happening as their home is being built. Jazel has had operation systems in place for years; it is a benefit of being in business long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. Zeleznik says making sure the process of building a new home is a smooth as possible helps keep the stress out of the equation for both customer and builder. “We have perfected some of our systems over the years so when a customer is looking for something 270A Campion specific we know what comes next and can respond.” N
St. Kelowna 250•765•0270 • www.koedawood.com NICHE
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PROFILE:
TREVOR NYEDELI
new home builds to
small renos results
award businessman
in winning foryoung
By BOBBI-SUE MENARD
F
resh out of high school Trevor Nyedeli went to cooking school but when he found out what the life of a chef entailed he quickly changed his mind. Nyedeli took the right training and went to work with his father as a home inspector in the Lower Mainland before starting in home renovations. With years of experience and training behind him Nyedeli moved to the Okanagan and kept working. “I wasn’t a fan of the ‘sunshine tax’ on wages so I was propelled into working on my own. I have a willingness to work six days a week and that’s a good thing for business,” says Nyedeli. Nyedeli opened Dunamis Projects right before the peak of economic boom in January 2007. It was a great start followed by an exasperating mix of hard waiting and working. “We met a lot of clients
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through the website. For Albertans it helped that we emailed pictures of progress continually. Eventually we started to get busier,” recalls Nyedeli. The other secret to success, says Nyedeli, has been his attention to scheduling. From the start of the company he has worked to be attentive to the lives of customers in the middle of a renovation. “I won’t start a job on a Friday, only to leave the home in a mess over the weekend. For smaller jobs we work to keep things simple for the customer, start on Monday and look to finish that week. We set up the work so we are efficient for the customer.”
Award Winning Custom Kitchens & Furniture Greystokes Millwork Ltd. 8105 Highland Place Vernon, BC 250-549-0416 www.greystokesmillwork.com
On larger jobs Nyedeli makes certain his crew and trades are aware that customers very often still need to live in and around the space that is being renovated, no matter how the TV networks advise people to move out during a reno. “I am very aware renovations are difficult for people to live through. I want more than people who are happy with a new bathroom but also happy with the service they received.” The hard work and ability to keep the company moving forward has paid off in community recognition. He won the Westside Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur of the Year this year. His says that part of the recognition is his willingness to hire local in the West Kelowna community where he is based. Projects have ranged from new home builds in Tulameen to bathroom gutting. Dunamis also does consistent work for a large seniors’ residence in Kelowna. Nyedeli has enough current projects on the go to make him confident in the near term, “We have set goals for the company and know how we want to grow.” N
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PRODUCT:
falcon railing and superdeck
deckwith aview
A
Transparent glass, rail and gate systems show you the scenery.
by Rand Zacharias
F
or residents of any mountainous valley region like the Okanagan, the undisturbed expanses of majestic scenery and crystalline lakes are among the top selling features to enhance the home experience. In other words, everyone wants the million dollar view. The biggest downfall for time spent on raised decks or balconies is that line of railing that cuts through the middle of what could be an uninterrupted panorama of nature’s beauty.
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Ace Plumbing is your one-stop destination for all your plumbing. heating, air conditioning, fireplaces, bath and kitchen fixtures needs.
We’ve all seen this effect, when sitting with friends, or alone, sipping on coffee or cocktails and having our favourite view–dashed in half by a glass rail system–with a thick, solid rail on the top, and on the bottom, cutting our scenic outlook right in half– the line of sight is obliterated. Falcon Railing and Superdeck has been installing the Topless Glass System that eliminates that sliced view from your deck. “Don Haines and Don Olfvik developed this patented system,” states Mark Whittle, owner and 25-year entrepreneur of the Falcon Manufacturing Group, “and recently added a topless gate, to create the feeling of openness to nature and an undisturbed viewing of our customers’ home or business surroundings.” The patented system is easy to install and with the vertical and adjustable post system that sandwiches 10 mm thick glass panels, Falcon can adjust rail systems to fit any deck. The ability to manoeuvre post slots from 45 to 135 degrees allows this system to conform with customized deck shapes making the Topless Rail system completely compatible to any deck. Standard colours are available for the post system, allowing the posts in colours to blend in with natural surroundings, including black, white and oyster grey, but custom colours can be created upon request. Along with the development of this transparent rail system, Falcon has also developed a Super Floor system. This durable floor coating can be used on decks, stairs, truck beds, patios, rec rooms, carports–almost any stable surface that requires a tough, durable indoor/outdoor application. Falcon Manufacturing Group also has a state-of-the-art geothermal, purely green, self storage facility used for heating and cooling applications by customers, water jet cutting systems and several other unique product offerings that are shipped and used around the world. N
Div. of Bricor Mechanical Ltd.
250●861●6696 www.aceplumbing.bz
1778 Baron Road, Kelowna BC
Practical, Innovative & Reasonable
Come visit our new location
ROV Consulting has been serving the Okanagan Valley since 1997.
101-2040 Springfield Rd
We specialize in residential & commercial structural engineering, including:
• Over-height basement walls • Tall Frame Walls, Retaining walls • Suspended Slabs (Garage Slabs) • ICF Walls, Additions & Renovations • Unique homes, Town homes & Condos • Small Commercial Offices, Warehouses • Inspections on behalf of other engineers N
P:250.860.0412
F: 250.860.0443
www.rovconsulting.ca
product
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SPECIALIST:
LONEY PLUMBING
plumbING:
STILL
practical The best bathroom still takes proper planning BY BOBBI-SUE MENARD
R
ichard Loney started out in the plumbing business in 1995. In 2003 he launched his company Loney Plumbing. In the 16 years since he first pulled a wrench, 90 per cent of his work has been in residential plumbing. Loney Plumbing operates five trucks with eight guys on the crew and works in new home construction and renovation throughout the Central Okanagan. Loney has been in the business long enough to see certain plumbing trends come, go and return. In the mid 1990s radiant floor heating was a popular option before demand tapered during the dotcom bust and early part of the decade. “Radiant heating was viewed as a bit of a luxury for a while. Starting about five or six years ago custom homes started being built with radiant heating again,” says Loney. Radiant heating is slender, coiled piping laid underneath sub-floor with heated water streamed through the pipes. Systems have become easier to use and better design has brought down the cost of radiant heating. “In the basement you get the biggest bang for your buck. Nothing gets the chill out of concrete floors like radiant heat,” explains Loney.
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Radient Hot Water Heat
Ornate showers with lavish multiple shower heads are not as common as some advertising would make it seem, says Loney. A rain shower head with a hand shower is almost the standard installation. Where Loney has seen a real increase in demand is for tankless water heaters. Customers are choosing tankless water heater options to control energy costs associated with heating water. Renovating a bathroom is still a big project and frustration can be staved off with proper planning, explains Loney. “The design of your plumbing system affects drains and water pressure. People tend to renovate one floor of their home at a time, but you can’t always expect to plug in a faucet and have it work perfectly. Form and function are always a challenge.” The green trend has influenced the plumbing industry. Customers are looking at solar hot water more often, says Loney, for both retro fits and new home construction. Lower costs, prepackaged systems and wider understanding are all contributing to the upsurge in system installation. “In the past it was hard to recover the install costs, but solar is much more workable now and much more reliable.” Gray water and rain barrels are entering the plumbing marketplace. Rural and semi-rural homes and some urban homes have the right mix of conditions to invest in serious water conservation. The plumbing industry has never had so many choices for the end user, says Loney, and that makes for happy home owners, “The quality and selection of what is available is very high right now. People should go with what they are happy with.” N specialist
.
kit.biz
kitchen design consulting contracting millwork
NEW LOCATION
1302 St Paul Street, Kelowna V1Y 2E1 | 250.712.1004 | www.kitbiz.ca
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Innovation:
big steel box
A novel way to build Containers work for storage and homes as well.
T
BY bobbi-sue menard
here is more than one way to build with a Big Steel Box. Builders and home owners know the site delivered storage units that can be easily transported can be an excellent solution for secure, onsite storage. The new way to use a Big Steel Box is to actually build homes out of the steel containers.
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Big Steel Box in Kelowna opened up shop in the Okanagan seven years ago. Part of a Western Canadian chain of locations, the company can deliver storage units to almost every work site in British Columbia. Big Steel Box Kelowna manager Troy Doell says the storage units have been used as storage in countless ways, “Tool cribs and homeowners moving are really common. We have helicoptered containers to mountain tops to be used as offices and dressing rooms for a movie set. We have used the boxes to create the supports for jumps at the Centre of Gravity festival.” The majority of Big Steel Box business is moving and storage. The company has an excellent trucking and logistics system for transporting full containers around the country. The process is radically simple for homeowners. A phone call orders a container delivered to their home, the container is filled at leisure by the homeowner with household items. A second phone call has the filled container picked up and delivered to a new home or to Big Steel Box’s secure storage yard. Construction companies have been modifying Big Steel Box units into site offices for years. It is simple work to add lighting, air conditioning, flooring and shelving. “We have modification yard in Abbotsford that will custom outfit your office,” says Doell. “The exterior can be modified so it looks nothing like a container.” Building whole homes out of Big Steel Box containers is a nascent idea that is gaining traction as homeowners and homebuilders are inspired to seek out new, cost effective ways to build a home. “If we can keep or cover aspects of a container for an office, it is not difficult to bring containers together and create home,” says Doell. Constructing a home out of Big Steel Box containers can cut the cost of construction by as much as 50 per cent. While creating temporary housing in work camp situations is the most obvious application, Doell says Big Steel Box is looking for builders who are interested in learning how to build homes out of containers and meet code. “Something built out of three, four, five containers, would be a cool house N to live in.”
innovation
.
BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY!
Innovation in Daylighting
Solar Centre
Bring Every Room to Life ● ● ●
Solatube Premier dealer #16 - 1771 Cooper Road Kelowna BC
Cost-effective way to brighten any home Innovative breakthrough technology for highest Profession ally performance installed in just 2 Free in-home consultations
hours
Call (250) 762-5587 today to light up your life
Visit us at www.solarcentre.ca for specials and events!
2343 Dominion Road West Kelowna
250-769-8528 Off Stevens Rd. behind Byland’s Nursery
Building, upgrading or remodeling your home? We invite you to visit our showroom to experience the latest in style and functionality.
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practical: PROFILE: PHILIP home MACDONALD energy assessment ARCHITECT
INC.
functional and interesting Architect designs for a specific value and community
BY bobbi-sue menard
Willowbridge at night.
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“ The exterior of a building is a sculpted form, a piece of art interacting with the street and buildings around it. Architecture has a language all its own, and Philip MacDonald, principal with Philip MacDonald Architects, creates multi-family buildings and developments that speak a clear message. “It has to resonate,” says MacDonald of good exterior design. But first impressions aren’t enough. “The interiors work with the street and forms of the building to create something functional and interesting.” MacDonald’s portfolio includes multi-unit residential condo buildings including Martin Lofts in Kelowna and light commercial development with Ambrosi Place. Lately MacDonald has been focusing on multi-unit residential for extended care, health care and community living. Willowbridge for the Canadian Mental Health Association is a recent Philip MacDonald project. It won multiple awards for architecture including a Tommie and a multi-unit residential award from the Canada Wood Council through the Wood Works! BC program. Willowbridge features exterior timber work combined with modern forms and an interior with generous use of wood on surfaces. The building is LEED certified and won a conservation award from FortisBC for energy efficiency. The project was valuable to MacDonald for more than the awards, “Willowbridge gave me an opportunity because of the functions of the space to create one large living room for the residents in the communal area. We were able to express in a significant way through architecture a specific value and community.” After the success of Willowbridge, MacDonald has several more provincially-funded projects pending from Cranbrook to Vernon. The recently completed Tutt Street project for NOW Canada is MacDonald’s most recent completion. The Tutt Street building features offices on the main floor with 39 residences for women and children above the offices. There is a philosophy, an understanding to achieve, that marks N good architecture explains MacDonald, “You have to get all of the pieces right from the public spaces such as the exterior to the private spaces. Form, proportion, material, mass, it is a symphony of experiences as people move through the building or home. You succeed when you make people comfortable.” With more public projects coming online for his firm, MacDonald finds himself in the position of being able to influence the architectural vocabulary of communities. One of his prouder moments is Willowbridge was completed in an extremely cost effective manner and totally on budget. MacDonald takes that record and reputation with him when speaking about design possibilities to decision makers, “In a public forum we are saying that taxpayers are paying for buildings to be of service to the community. We feel those buildings should be every bit as impressive as City Hall. You want really good architecture in your community that you can be proud of. When building design is done thoughtfully and carefully it is cost effective.” N NICHE
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CONTRACTOR:
HAMLET PROPERTY SERVICES
TO build OR not TO build The English way is a good way to do it
By RAND ZACHARIAS
“W
e’re really, really good,” laughs Paul Day, owner and chief operating carpenter (COC) of Hamlet Property Services. “We do renovations, custom builds, complete start-to-finish projects, and back in my birthplace, I even used to renovate castles.”
Arriving in the Okanagan Valley, six years ago, and working for local builders and developers as a site superintendent, including some years with Fawdry Homes, Paul Day saw a niche market he could fill with a new company, his company–Hamlet Property Services–it was right at the tail end of the busiest building period in the Okanagan Valley– and Day realized the need for creating quality results with quality products from start to finish. “I get so many calls from people who aren’t happy with results on their project,” claims Day, “and many times it’s because a builder may have too many projects on the go, may to be too big a company for your specific project–or simply isn’t a good fit for completing your dream renovation, home or addition. “I manage the whole project, use qualified and certified trades that are also doing the job right,” claims Day, “We’re always busy, but only on three projects at any one time– that’s my maximum–or one quickly begins to see quality issues arise, everywhere.” Day’s been doing complete construction for over three decades and with the stringent and comprehensive training of the English trade school system, sponsored by an English employer, he holds his journeyman certificate from City and Guild’s four-year apprenticeship program. “We don’t just learn how to frame,” says the master craftsman. “In England we frame, finish, sand and even install
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Paul Day and one of his co-workers
and coat drywall materials–we learn the ins and outs of coordinated construction so that the conclusion of a project is built correctly–from start to a quality completion.” It may be English tradition that has taught Paul Day these valuable lessons, but it is, of course, a lesson of history. To be a good builder, or master craftsman, one must look at a project comprehensively–from start to finish–and realize that for lack of a nail, a battle can be lost. In Canada, many trades focus on solely one sector of the construction industry, but for the journeyman who wishes to seize the day and create a unique piece, or project in a home build or renovation–it might be in your best interN ests to give Paul a call.
FORD IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE 2010 PRESIDENT’S AWARD DIAMOND CLUB WINNERS. WINNER’S LIST ALBERTA Advantage Ford Sales Ltd. Art Barry Ford Sales Ltd. Cam Clark Ford Sales Ltd. Denham Ford Sales Ltd. Freedom Ford Sales Limited Harwood Ford Sales Ltd. MGM Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd. Peace River Ford Sales Inc. Universal Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Terrace Ford Lincoln Sales Inc.
Kingland Ford Sales Ltd.
Wells Ford Sales Ltd. Whiteoak Ford Lincoln Sales Limited Winegard Motors Ltd.
ONTARIO Airport Ford Lincoln Sales Limited
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Barrie Ford
D Alex MacDonald Ltd.
Benton Fry Ford Sales Ltd. Bill Houston Ford Ltd. Courtesy Ford Lincoln Sales Limited
Banlieue Ford Inc.
Donnelly Ford Lincoln
Beauce Auto (2000) Inc.
Douglas Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd. Ed Learn Ford Lincoln Ltd.
Desjardins Ford Ltée
Eric Campbell Ford Lincoln Ltd.
Dupont Ford Ltée
G. Figliomeni & Sons Inc. George Stockfish Ford 1987 Ltd.
MANITOBA Hometown Service Ltd.
Lally Sales & Service Ltd.
Cam Clark Ford Lincoln Ltd.
Keystone Ford Sales Ltd.
Larry Renaud Ford Sales
Dave Landon Motors Ltd.
Metcalfe’s Garage Ltd.
Jacobson Ford Sales Ltd.
Mid-Town Ford Sales Limited
Mohawk Ford Sales (1996) Ltd.
Ocean Park Ford Sales
NOVA SCOTIA
Steve Marshall Motors Ltd.
Jim Hatheway Ford Sales Limited
Watkin Motors
Steele Ford Lincoln
Vegreville Ford Sales & Service Inc.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Windsor Ford Sales
Corey Ford Ltd.
Woodridge Ford Lincoln Ltd.
Taylor Ford Sales Ltd.
Tri County Ford Sales Limited Tusket Sales & Service Ltd.
Bouchard Ford
Dupuis Ford Lincoln Inc.
A.M. Ford Sales Ltd.
Metro Motors Ltd.
Baril Ford Lincoln Inc.
Chartrand Ford (Ventes) Inc.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Ken Evans Ford Sales Ltd.
Automobile J.P. Yergeau Inc.
Discovery Ford Sales Burlington Limited
Grogan Ford Lincoln Incorporated
Kelowna Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd.
QUÉBEC
Fecteau Ford Inc. Gérard Hubert Auto Ltée Jacques Olivier Ford Inc. Le Circuit Ford Lincoln Ltée Machabée Automobiles Inc. Ostiguy Ford Lincoln Terrebonne Ford Inc.
Moynes Ford Sales Limited Oak-Land Ford Lincoln Sales Limited
SASKATCHEWAN
Oakridge Ford Sales (1981) Ltd.
Bennett-Dunlop Ford Sales (1993) Limited
Parkway Ford Sales (1966) Ltd.
Centennial Ford Sales Ltd. Ltd.
Pinewood Park Motors Inc.
Jubilee Ford Sales (1983)
Planet Ford Inc.
Moose Jaw Ford Sales Ltd.
Ridgewood Ford Sales Limited
Tisdale’s Sales and Service Ltd.
Taylor Ford Sales
Two-Way Service Ltd.
Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. is proud — proud that we had a truly outstanding year in Canada in 2010, and proud of the dealers that helped make it happen. The 2010 President’s Award Diamond Club honours our top dealers for demonstrating a superior level of customer care at every visit. These ultimate performers are measured not only in outstanding new vehicle sales, but also in excellent service as judged by customer comments and comprehensive surveys. We are honoured to have them representing the Ford brand. Please join us in congratulating their worthy contribution.
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practical: feature: INVITE home INenergy THE LIGHT assessment
new ADVENTS in
windows, doors AND screens The clearly innovative products of three Okanagan companies
BY RAND ZACHARIAS
The invisible, adjustable Phantom screen
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Euroline Windows’s energy-saving, attractive windows
F
or many of us, when we throw on clothes for the day...we stop and ask ourselves, “How do I dress this frame up with some stylish accessories?” It is the same for building your dream home–the accessories, however, are doors, windows, awnings and screening systems– not belts, ties, necklaces or jewellery. The wide variety available can finish the frame that is to become your home, or make your existing one, the best-dressed one on the block.
Euroline Windows: Euopean Tilt and Turn Technology
“We are the Oakleys of the window industry,” states Paul Klyne, regional sales consultant for Euroline Windows Inc. for the central and south Okanagan Valley. “We are a leader in research and development, offering wide varieties of colour, design and construction for finishing your home with windows, screens, doors, awnings and roll shutters.” European window technology, developed over the course of the last 60 years, has helped Euroline with the ‘tilt and turn’ feature on their Elite windows; this tilt function allows the secure flow of fresh air into the building, generating a draft-free ventilation and air exchange. This design feature allows the window to tilt on its top to the inside for ventilation... hot air rises in the interior of the home and escapes out the top of the window, thereby allowing cooler air to drop in from the sides of the window creating a silent breeze, or air turnover...or to turn the window in for cleaning of the outside, and for a fast air exchange during the winter. The ‘tilt and turn’ design creates savings on electric or gas bills by eliminating the over use of air-conditioning systems in the summer–and heating systems in the winter. Purposefully engineered, multi-chambered extrusions with extra-large wall thickness for strength and stability, combined with heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant metal reinforcement and nano-sil-coated multi-point locking hardware make for one of the strongest and most durable window and door systems in the industry. “Along with our strong window and patio door lines, we also have a catalogue with a selection of over 500 door panel designs for our exquisite line of main entry doors, allowing customers to design their own unique door theme, if desired,” states Klyne. “These panel inserts are imported from Germany and placed in doors manufactured here in Canada by EuroLine.” EuroLine manufactures its own folding doors, and is not just a distributor of a foreign product, as most competitor brands. This gives them a huge advantage over other manufacturers in terms of flexibility and delivery times, and creates products with a coherent and uniform look. Awnings, screens and roll shutters are added decorations that can further adorn your home with color, detail and distinct taste that bring privacy, and perhaps most importantly, security to your home. Given the European heritage of the design features and technology of EuroLine’s products, it is not surprising that the equipment and computer controlled machinery that makes up the assembly lines were manufactured in, and imported from, Germany.
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Steel Craft Doors are durable and stylish
Steel Craft Door Products: Unique Garage Door Design
Another accessory for your home may include something you haven’t thought about–your garage door(s). Art Mihalcheon started in 1963, out of Edmonton, and began the 100% family-owned, and 100% Canadian-made Steel Craft Door Products. After nearly 50 years of quality service and fine products, Steel Craft is constantly improving their fine line-up of garage door systems. The RanchCraft and CarriageCraft lines offer their design namesakes, while the newly announced, uniquely translucent Esteem line offers the conspicuous buyer an even more enhanced experience in design when compared to what has often been a bland, under-insulated space that is one of the most commonly used entries to a home. The patented Weatherlock system uses a sandwiching method of polyurethane insulating foam creating a solid construct and seal, including a thermal barrier, with twice the R-value inside a Steel Craft door, along with the elimination of possible mould growth from interior moisture created by temperature variations over the lifetime of a Steel Craft door. Polystyrene insulation tends to move, melt and moisten–unlike the sealed strength of the dent-resistant Steel Craft door systems. Rigid steel construction, coated with zinc, primer and an exterior polyester top coat, allows Steel Craft the confidence of supplying a seven-year warranty. Only Canadian steel is used to create the doors and brace systems for the ease and quiet operation of your remote-controlled door. Nylon rollers eliminate the screech and squeal of the traditional steel rollers offered by lesser brands.
Phantom Screens: Retractable, Protective, Attractive
Perhaps the most overlooked opportunity for accessorizing your home is the screen. Phantom Screens is a leader in worldwide solutions to screening your home’s doors, windows, patios, lanais, balconies, canopied decks and garage door openings. With the capacity to cover large areas of up to 25’ wide by 16’ high areas on motorized, even sensor-controlled, systems, the Phantom retractable screen may be just what your home requires to make the warmer three seasons of the year comfortable, costeffective and protected from insects and the ravages of extreme solar heat. Levon Symonds, branch manager for Phantom Screens in the B.C. interior, has seen a great deal of change in the industry. Phantom has partnered with Home Depot, and more recently, Seiki Screens of Japan, to create the most variety and highest quality manual and motorized screen systems. With Seiki Screens onboard, the Infinity screen system can enclose any width of opening without limitation as to span or width. The maximum number of panels is unlimited, and any of the three-foot panels can be designated as an entryway. The added benefit of solar protection, cost savings on air-conditioning energy bills, along with protection from insects and pests make screening your outside spaces a decision that could be a wise one for your family`s, and home`s, future. Phantom offers a wide variety of floor-to-ceiling, multi-entry screen systems that can become invisible when not in use. Motorized systems can be discreetly hidden in the framework of your project or mounted on the surface with tastefully designed housing eliminating the screen from view altogether. Each retractable screen project can be delivered in the colour of your choice as the spectrum of available mesh and color options is broad. You may remember the first time you saw a discreetly stored manual door screen two decades ago, with the humble beginnings of Phantom starting in Abbotsford in 1992 under the direction of a Dutch immigrant named Syb Rypma. The simple door screen has come a long way to become the choice for outdoor living enthusiasts who are still concerned about solar, energy and proper maintenance of homes and businesses. N
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design:
wolseley kitchen & bath classics
new bathroom directions
Sleeker, more minimalist, energy-efficient design
by Bobbi-Sue Menard The Wolseley Staff
I
t is a preferred showroom of contractors and home owners looking for quality kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Wolseley Kitchen and Bath Classics in Kelowna has the national capacity to provide the very latest in bathroom fixtures. The style of the home is still the greatest influence on the style of the bathroom fixture. As homes in the Okanagan are trending to more modern, clean lines, trades people and home owners are choosing fixtures with more of a sleek, square shape. “Think Frank Lloyd Wright rather than Art Deco,” says Hayley Mepham, Wolseley showroom manager. The other popular styling is an Arts and Crafts aesthetic that is almost Amish. Despite the new design directions for fixtures, there has been little movement in materials. Chrome is still the number one choice with brushed nickel coming in second place for popularity. Mepham says the increasing popularity of chrome and nickel have put the squeeze on other metal choices, “We are not seeing as much oil rubbed bronze and pewter as we were just a few years ago.” The mechanics of taps and water flow are shifting; more and more people are choosing open channel, also known as waterfall flow hardware. Manufacturers are responding to demand and there are more styles of open channel fixtures available all the time. Mepham says manufacturers are innovating for change, drawing the consumer into the future. Touch-free and electronic bathroom faucets are on the horizon. Taps are also shifting to a European look for mounting. More styles are available for wall mounting. It is a minimalist look that suits modern styling; everything including the sink is kept up off the floor. Sinks in en suite bathrooms have largely trending to undermount options. Undermount sinks are simpler to keep clean and show off the countertop material. “Silestone, granite, Corian, poured concrete, they are all still popular,” explains Mepham. “People are saving the mounted basin sinks in glass and ceramic for the powder room.” Showers remain a haven, but the multi-head shower is waning in popularity. The most common choice is an eight inch rain head shower with a hand shower on a slider bar. Despite the hardware changes, Mepham says customers are still choosing the fully tiled shower with glass enclosure to make the room seem larger. Of all the trends in bathrooms, it is the new toilet flushing capacity bylaw due to come into effect this fall that will have the one of the biggest impacts, says Mepham. “Quality manufacturers have beefed up their systems to deal with the low flow requirements.” N
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developer:
mission group
VALLEY home owner’s CREATIVE
makeover
Development group continues with residential innovation by rand zacharias
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“Q
uality and care,” states Randall Shier, president of Mission Group, “are the two words that we want our customers to use when thinking about us as their builder.” “Connectivity and relationships,” says Jonathan Friesen, chairman, “are the two necessary ingredients when we experience a thing of beauty–most of us wish to share this experience with those we most love.” The above quotes may sound out of context when one thinks they are coming from the leaders of a high-end development team, but they are statements of philosophy that have allowed the Mission Group to excel in a competitive home buyer’s marketplace. The formation of Mission Group in the Okanagan Valley seems a serendipitous event that has created an entirely new look to the face of a valley that required a creative makeover. The key players in the company were educated and learned their professions around the world–from Tokyo to the L.A. basin and arriving at the same time in Vancouver, both decided that the Okanagan was a region ripe for quality building, customer service and an imaginative process to create micro-communities ripe for something different. Winsome Hill, the Mission Group’s latest development is set between the developments of HighPoint and the distinguished Sheerwater. The three-bedroom town homes of Winsome Hill, complimented with rancher, walk-out basements in a later phase, are perfectly accentuated for active young families. There are five minute trips to malls, beaches, and nature-focused activities, appealing to the amenities and recreation of growing families. The sizes of the homes vary for a range of lifestyles and budgets, while creating a vibrant community. “Architecture at Winsome Hill is a twist...a great fit for the Okanagan’s young families...these homes are designed in the Monterey Craftsman style from wine country in California,” says Bob Anderson, marketing director of the Mission Group. “While the past few years have represented a challenge for our company, we have fared better than most and we have taken the opportunity to refocus our commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience,” says Anderson. The community at Winsome Hill will take two to three years to complete depending on sales velocity as sales tend to occur as each home nears completion–it is a winning formula for this imagineering company that looks to be building for many years to come in the valley called Okanagan. In addition to Winsome Hill, Mission Group is also offering the third phase of Dwell in midtown Kelowna. Dwell has had a successful spring as there are only two homes available for sale in the first two phases. The two- and three-bedroom city homes are another example of the Mission Group’s flair for creating unique communities. The brownstone inspired homes each have their own expansive rooftop sun decks and are a perfect alternative to the condominium lifestyle. Both communities are backed by Mission Group’s commitment to N providing an exceptional home ownership experience.
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HERITAGE:
THE BENNETT ESTATE
KELOWNA’S DEHART/BENNETT HOME PRESTIGIOUS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS HERITAGE AND PROVENANCE
Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
BY Rand Zacharias
View from the interior of the DeHart dining room of Brookside Manor
The award-winning town home community now known as The Bennett Estate, next to Mill Creek just off Sutherland Avenue in Kelowna, was originally christened Brookside Manor by an earlier arriving couple–Frank and Petronella DeHart. By 1936, the historic home’s provenance came to include the occupancy of W.A.C. Bennett – future, and longest lasting premier of British Columbia.
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FACING PAGE: Modern view of Brookside Manor/ Bennett House taken from across Mill Creek and viewing the southeast rear corner of the home
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PHOTO BY RAND ZACHARIAS
rancis Richard Edwin DeHart was the early pioneering spirit, and ‘architect’, who contracted the building of the Tudor Revival–styled house in Kelowna, eventually bearing the name of Brookside Manor. A tiled mosaic symbol of a heart placed in the center of a capitalized “D” clearly forms an insignia important to the DeHart family. The black D with the red heart placed at its centre lies beneath a rug at the front entry, a reminding vestige of this early Kelowna family’s occupancy of an Okanagan Valley treasure. The patriarch of the western–moving DeHart clan, Francis, called Frank by his peers, was educated and graduated from the Ontario Agricultural College at the close of the 19th century. After farming for four years at Indian Head, Saskakatchewan, he played an instrumental role in the founding of the community of Grand Coulee, also in Saskatchewan, and building the first store in the newborn town circa 1902. By 1903, DeHart and Petronella (nee Guy), his wife, whom he married in 1898, moved to Kelowna–he was 29 years old–the couple would have four children, Guy, Marjorie Bey, Una and Diana. DeHart established himself as a consummate, award-winning fruit and grain grower, winning horticultural contests, regionally, nationally and internationally–putting B.C. fruit on the global map–while taking great interest in the booming community–by first becoming an alderman, then Kelowna’s second mayor, and then the first president of the newly established Independent Fruit Growers
Guy DeHart, first born, and only, son of Frank and Petronella DeHart at age 40. Guy is wearing the cap of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. He is reported to have made the final dealings when his father died in 1935 and Brookside Manor’s title was passed to business man, and future premier, W A C Bennett.
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heritage
Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
circa 1928 – F R E (Frank) DeHart stands in his garden featuring 135 varieties of Peoney varieties at Brookside
F
Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
Association. He is remembered for leading the ‘a cent a pound or on the ground’ campaign, which dissatisfied apple growers carried on with chants and signage on their crusade to establish realistic profits for fruit growers in 1933. Construction of Brookside Manor, announced a heritage site on April 28, 1997, began in 1912 and by 1914 the exquisite home was completed. The DeHarts lived in their new, and unique, abode for over 20 years. In a recent interview, Russell J. Bennett, older brother of former premier Bill Bennett stated, “The reason for the DeHarts leaving the home was similar to circumstances for many at that time–and not unlike circumstances for many today–land prices crashed and a recession occurred, leaving land prices stagnant until the 1960s. George Gaddes, a realtor at that time, told me about a trip DeHart took to England to buy furniture and sell Okanagan land to hopeful immigrants–he returned to find all his land deals had fallen through and his finances were in crisis–the house carried a mortgage that the family could no longer afford.” Francis died on July 8, 1935. Petronella would not follow her husband in passing until much later, a day shy of Valentine’s Day, on February 13, 1969-34 years later–one of our local media celibrities, Maxine DeHart, married into the family. In 1936, ownership of the manor was taken on by none other than famed Kelownian, the patriarch and controversial “Man of the Century,” William Andrew Cecil (W.A.C.) Bennett–friends called him Cece. The Bennett family lived in Brookside Manor, spending many years located at the heart of the city of Kelowna, next to Mill Creek at the end of present day Bowes Street. The home was soon called the Bennett House as the patriarch moved up the social ladders from business man to political dynamo from 1952-1972. Cece Bennett passed away seven years after leaving politics in 1979, as his son, Bill, rose to prominence in British Columbian politics–ultimately walking the line of his father and holding the position of premier from 1975-1986. May Bennett, the
Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
PHOTO BY RAND ZACHARIAS
This group family shot was taken when W A C Bennett was BC Premier, in the ‘60’s, and portrays May, the Bennett’s children – Anita, Russell and Bill – an unnamed spouse and four grandchildren
CLOCKWISE: Portrait of Petronella (Guy) DeHart, circa 1911, in London upon the occasion of the Coronation of King George V May Bennett, stands beside a portrait of her husband--he passed away in 1979, the photo was taken in the 1980’s--May passed away in 1989--ten years after her husband Petronella DeHart holds son, Guy, during the last year of the 19th century – 1900
Creek Bridge, located in Mill Bridge Park crosses the stream and leads the pedestrian traffic behind the manor and estate to enjoy a comfortable tour of old and new Kelowna
heritage
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Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
Premier Bennett, and his wife, May, are paraded along the streets of Kelowna during the centennial celebrations of 1967. The Bennetts are wearing period costumes celebrating 100 years of Canada.
matriarch, passed away at age 92, on Sept. 4, 1989, and was the last of the family to live in the home. The only daughter of May and Cece was Anita Tozer Bennett–passing in 2000–a volunteer in the community and some time historical writer–she is remembered in Kelowna by the Anita Tozer Memorial Award for outstanding community service. The City of Kelowna offers this award every year–it has been won by local recognized names such as Beryl Itani and favoured, and recently lost, Reverend Albert Baldeo. After 1989, the Bennett/Brookside
Manor was passed to the grandchildren. “Anita, Bill and I felt it was only right to pass the estate to the next generation,” claims Russell J. Bennett, older brother to the former premier, Bill. The home, however, was discovered to need extensive work done on the roof, both structural and cosmetic, along with upgrades for any future use, so at the family’s expense, a fair amount was soon invested in what some might call an aging ‘money pit’. Something had to be done–and a development project was discussed. The Bennett Estate Brookside was created and the Bennett family hired Annand Burton-Brown Architects of Vancouver, who won the 1999 Thompson-Okanagan Housing Award for best townhouse or semi-detached development 1,200 square feet or more–the development, and now established community, is called The Bennett Estate. The prestigious townhouse community, on the 7.5 acre site, is claimed to be the only heritage residential development site outside of Vancouver. Several executively styled homes now surround the manor that was once the home of the DeHarts and Bennetts. A walk about MillBridge Park allows the public glimpses of the near century-old home–as it celebrates its 100th year in 2014. The historic home serves as a common area for the exclusive use of residents and their guests including a meeting room, a billiards room, a library, and an exercise facility as well as guest accommodations. The home is ornately detailed: • The Gambrel roof has bell cast eaves in the Mansard style, with projecting rafters beneath both the eaves of the main roof and the small roof atop the ground floor.
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Historic Photograph Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives
WINDOWS
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On September 16, 1964, B. C. Premier Bennett, U. S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson are seated during a “meeting of heads of state” ceremony at the Vancouver Airport
• Fieldstone dado is capped with concrete block and the foundation walls were constructed of local concrete block. Russell Bennett tells of old discarded horseshoes being the linked reinforcing steel, in place of rebar, used to strengthen the concrete walls. This was discovered when a basement wall was dismantled revealing the inner skeleton of the difficult to destroy wall of concrete. • The corbel-style brick chimneys point skyward with thick fingerlike tips and the original wood-framed windows have unique early 20th century sash configurations accentuated by large bay windows extravagant in their projecting mounts. • The original off-white colour scheme was accentuated with dark brown trim creating the Tudor Revival theme. A pleasant grey now adorns the original brown trim, creating uniformity with the surrounding townhouses of The Bennett Estate. The pastoral calm flowing from Mill Creek running by, a quiet meadow and swaying, mature deciduous trees continue to add prominence to this community along with modern landscaping and pathways that allow present residents to enjoy a heritage property at De Heart of Kelowna. Brookside Manor seems to have found a Bennettficial use–even after nearly a century of service. Historic Photographs Courtesy of the Kelowna Public Archives. N
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A rear view of the present-day manor from the walking trail across from the home, on the opposite bank of Mill Creek
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COMMUNITY: SOLE
SMALL footprint BIGlifestyle
Ideal urban living for downsizers By bobbi-sue menard
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magine a modern, ergonomic space packed with clever design and style in the heart of Kelowna’s arts district. If you go looking for the real life representation of that idea you will find Sole, a new condo development by Edgecombe Builders. Sole is a new concept for Kelowna: small footprint with a big lifestyle. The concept behind Sole is the wave of the future, says Kevin Edgecombe, “We find this is what the marketplace is turning to: a small, well-appointed space. Sole is quite unique and contemporary in the Kelowna marketplace.” Baby boomers looking for a place to downsize with a sophisticated take on urban living, and young professionals looking for a home they can relate to, will both be captivated by Sole. The footprints of each home are relatively small, 680 to 770 square feet. Nine-anda-half foot high ceilings in every unit, elevated storage spaces, and sliding wall systems between rooms all contribute to a feeling of spaciousness. Modern finishing materials include cork flooring, smooth-front European cabinetry and stainless steel accents. The standard floor plan for each unit is one bedroom. In a unique customization twist, early buyers are able to have the floor plan
enlarged and reconfigured to add a second bedroom for only an additional $5,000. The building is designed for lifestyle with rooftop garden terraces and a workout room. Home buyers have the ability to sell their car; Sole is introducing a car share program and two vehicles will come with the property for resident use. The location of Sole is an important part of what makes the property work as a unique entry in the marketplace. These city-style homes are in the most urban location possible in the Okanagan, the edge of Kelowna’s downtown, close to Prospera Place, the arts district, restaurants and shopping. “Walkability is a large part of an urban experience,” explains Edgecombe. “With the location and style we are convinced there is a good demographic of people who are looking for a home like this.” The current state of the condo market in the Central Okanagan cannot be ignored and Edgecombe says the company is steadily getting the word out about what make Sole different, “We have good optimism right now, the unique location and design is attracting real interest. We are very confident the market will embrace the concept N moving forward.”
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SHOWCASE:
PREDATOR RIDGE
THE evolution of acommunity Twenty years of careful, strategic development
“I
By rand zacharias
t’s about community, a seminal moment of calm decision in our customers’ lives,” states Howard Kruschke, senior director of real estate sales and marketing for the growing community and developmental success story that is Predator Ridge. “As we have been on a comfortable pace for real estate sales, even during this global downturn, our customers are looking at the entire picture, the complete offering of comfort, entertainment, environment and quality of life that Predator Ridge can offer them in response to their present home–whether they are leaving the Canadian Prairies, a large urban centre or from locales abroad. But
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most importantly, they see investment, a vested interest by Wesbild, the complex’s developer, cooperating together with over 500 members of our community.” As an example of their connection to community, during the NHL’s championship playoffs, the Ridge was renamed–Canucks Ridge–showing loyalty to our province’s professional hockey team. Most of the hospitality staff were wearing Canuck jerseys and you could see an old team logo carved into the 18th fairway of the Predator course. “Of course, it’s not just community, it’s also location, convenience and stated often, but of definitive importance...lifestyle,” says Kruschke. These factors of lifestyle, community and feeling of home are not an illusion–this is the result of 20 years of careful, strategic development with a vision for this largest resort in British Columbia. Initially, this vision was of a golf course called Predator Ridge, beginning in 1991 by the division of Inwest Investments Limited called Wesbild. Inwest branches include residential development, retail development and departments in pharmaceutical and entertainment royalties owned and directed by its founder, Canadian entrepreneur, Hassan Khosrowshahi. The second phase of this evolving development’s success story is the beginning of a real estate plan that started in 1999. “I’m not a golfer,” claims Claire Radford, property specialist. “I’ve lived here and work with our future home and villa owners to seek out and discover their personal dreams and aspirations at Predator Ridge. I love it here, and stay because of the hiking trails and closeness to nature I feel each time a new customer is looking on a property that they may purchase.” For the real estate team of the Predator Ridge community, with over a third of the 500 homeowners choosing to call the rolling valley their primary home, there is no pressure to signing a client to close a contractual obligation. “Often times I don’t confirm a sale until six to ten days after our meeting–even months,” claims Jason Koverchuk, property specialist, “and that’s because for many of our buyers–this is a very significant life change that will allow them to slow down, enjoy our moderate, four–season climate and the spectacular views of Lake Okanagan, rolling, pastoral hills and prominent mountain vistas. It’s not the hustle and bustle of our planet’s out of control pace...it’s a comfortable community, close to everything.” Jason moved back to the Okanagan Valley after a lengthy career in the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas–for him, it was about making a life choice with his wife and young family. “It is a different, and calming, way of life out here–I wish you could see how much of a pleasure it is for me to meet up with my next client and show them all that we have to offer–within 15 minutes of the city of Vernon, and only 25 minutes from Kelowna International Airport.” The options for owning even a small portion of this continuously improving development can start as a “fraction” purchase which entails an investment as low as $58,000. However, lovely custom homes and villas can be purchased and designed from the underground up starting in the low $400,000s. Whatever your dreams for the future, Predator Ridge’s offerings can create a community of comfort, calming control of one’s life and lifestyle and the very real attachment of home. N
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DEVELOPER: TRICO
HOMES
AWARDED ESTABLISHED builder creates homes
custom
T
in Vernon
he Vernon new home market has a varied mix of opportunities for builders and buyers alike. The community of Vernon offers a gracious lifestyle while the geography of the town and surrounding area provides home owners the chance to enjoy spectacular views and the mild Okanagan climate. Established Calgary builder and developer Trico Homes opened a Vernon location in 2006. The company brought experience and a defined point of view to the North Okanagan residential building market. Trico’s general manager in Vernon, Jacob Kuiken, is the former Calgary operations manager and is now happy to call Coldstream home. Trico Homes in Calgary has been recognized as a platinum member of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada. It has achieved the 50 Best Managed list seven years in a row. Trico has also been named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces five out of the last six years. The company has built over 4500 homes since 1989. The company’s goal in opening the Vernon office was to embrace and build homes of quality and value. Trico builds custom homes throughout Vernon, has a multi-family project on the go and is building at Sierra Gardens, Turtle Mountain and Vista Lago. Vista Lago is a series of semi-detached villas at The Rise. The 12 Tuscan themed homes come complete with sweeping views of either
By bobbi-sue menard
Lake Okanagan or Vernon. “We chose to build at The Rise because it offers outstanding value and a great opportunity,” explains Kuiken. The development is moving forward steadily, despite what Kuiken admits is a fairly quiet spring market place. There have been sufficient pre-sales to begin construction on four homes. Kuiken says home buyers are seeing the benefits of Vista Lago, “Now is the perfect time to buy with our great pre-construction pricing.” Homes at Vista Largo are appointed with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile and hardwood flooring. The standard floor plan is 2083 square feet with three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and an office space on both the upstairs and downstairs level. The lower floor is also home to a wine room. Large covered decks have outdoor living space for entertaining. The exteriors are a mix of acrylic stucco and stone with clay tile roofs for a Mediterranean feel. Each home is professionally landscaped. All homes have individual geothermal heating systems at The Rise and the land is freehold, not strata. The Rise is home to a Fred Couples signature golf course, a vineyard and winery, and a beach club. The development is only 10 minutes from downtown Vernon. The master planned community continues to move forward as buyers choose to experience some of the best views and lifestyle amenities in the Vernon area. N
Rendering of a Vista Lago villa at The Rise
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DIRECTORY CHBA-CO Architects Architecturally Distinct Solutions Inc. Matt Johnston/ Grace Pontes 250 878 4313 www.distinctsolutions.ca Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. Philip MacDonald 250 764 4157 www.pma-architect.ca Builders A Legacy of Designs Ltd. Brad Dziedzic & Brandy de Bartolo-Dziedzic 250-558-8889/ 250-558-8839 www.legacyofdesigns.com AuthenTech Homes Ltd. Scott Tyerman, RHP (250) 491-7690 www.authentechhomes.com Bellamy Homes Les Bellamy (250) 470-2429 www.bellamyhomes.ca Borebank Ventures Inc. Paul Benson 250-979-1650 Built Rite Homes (A Division of Roblyn Developments Ltd.) Robert Anderson 250-764-0315 www.builtritehomes.ca Burland Langdon Construction Ltd. Brooke Langdon 250 342 5660 Cardan Enterprises Ltd. Don Dudgeon & Lisa Dudgeon 250-861-8823 www.cardan.ca Chaparral Industries (86) Inc. John Pushor/Jim Pushor 250-765-2985 www.chaparralhomes.com Chatham Homes Dave Chatham (250) 764-5387 or 862-1075 Chriscan.com Enterprises Ltd. Len Suchocki (250) 712-1324 www.chriscan.com Constructive Concepts Ltd. Darren Evans 250-542-1801 http://constructiveconcepts CorWest Builders Andreas Hayer/ Bob Guy 250-869-4960 www.corwest.ca Destination Homes Don Erdely & Travis Erdely (250) 707-1752 www.homesbydestination.com Distinctive Developments Ltd. Terry Heinrich (250) 491-1171 www.Distinctivedevelopments.com
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Dunamis Projects Trevor / Evangeline Neyedli 250 681 3732 www.dunamisprojects.com
Jazel Enterprises Ltd. James Zeleznik (250) 768-5799 www.Jazelhomes.com
Okanagan Trend West Master Builder Ltd. Ray Moran 250-558-0415 www.okanagantrendwest.com
Edgecombe Builders Kevin Edgecombe & Don Campbell (250) 491-8655 www.edgecombebuilders.com
John Bachelder Construction John Bachelder (250)862-6725 Johnbachelderconstruction.com
Pars Construction Amir Khajavi (250) 878-0662 www.ParsConstruction.com
Eidse Builders Jim Eidse, Gary Tebbutt & Elmer Eidse (250) 862-2650 www.eidse.com
Karmoy Builders Inc. Jody Dyrland 250-919-8448 www.karmoybuilders.com
Pentar Homes Ltd. Fred Parent (250) 862-9006 www.pentarhomes.com
Fawdry Homes Glenn Fawdry, RHP (250) 862-8630 www.fawdryhomes.ca/
Kascade Developments Scott Renou 250 448 6339
Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. Lisa Godlien 250-342-0853 www.quiniscoe.ca
Frame Custom Homes Ltd. Bill Frame 250-718-8670 www.framecustomhomes.com Freeport Industries Todd Venier / Chris Inkster (250) 707-3950 www.freeportindustries.ca Hamill Creek Timber Homes Inc. Fiona Daniels (250) 366-4320 www.hamillcreek.com Hamlet Property Services Paul Day 250 215 5355 Handyman Connection Quentin Cyre (250) 717-5500 kelowna.handymanconnection.com
Keith Dahlen Construction Ltd. - ReBath Okanagan Ken Dahlen (ReBath Okanagan www. rebathokanagan.ca) 250-545-1300 www.keithconstruction.ca Kentland Homes Ltd. Stephen Wells (250) 764-1306 www.kentlandhomes.com Knight’s Gate Properties Ltd. Richard Soneff 250 878 8090 Landing Construction Ltd. Brad Stinn 250 542 3276 www.landingconstruction.ca
Redgwell Construction Ltd. Lyle Redgwell 250 549 7405 Richbuilt Homes Darren Richmond 250 549 8852 www.richbuilt.ca RLJ Homes Inc. Ray LaPointe 250-862-1968 www.rljhomes.com Rockwood Homes Construction Ltd. Gilles Ladouceur 1-250-450-9761 www.rockwoodhomes.ca
Larsen & Whelan Enterprises Ltd. Stephen Whelan & Ian Larsen 250-423-8810
Rykon Construction Management Ltd. Randy Siemens, Kelly Lawrie, CMA (250) 712-9664 www.rykon.ca
Hansum Homes & Development Inc. John Hansum & Fran Hansum (250) 764-2324 www.hansumhomes.com
Mandala Custom Homes Inc. Lars Chose 250-352-5582 www.mandalahomes.com
Schulz Construction Inc. Marlin Schulz 250-212-9541 www.schulzdevelopments.com
Harmony Homes Mick Webb (250) 765-5191 www.harmonyhomes.net
Meadow Ridge Homes Ltd. Miles & Susan Krahn (250) 861-3344 www.meadowridgehomes.com
Heirloom Custom Homes Ltd. Jason Brears 250-718-5752 www.heirloomcustomhomes.ca
Neil Miller Homes Ltd. Neil Miller (250) 764-8627 www.millerhomes.ca
Sierra West Homes & Construction Corp. Kevin Adams (250) 767-1993 Cell: 878-2207 www.sierrawesthomes.com
Hildebrandt Homes Ken Hildebrandt (250) 309-4986 http://okanaganbchomebuilder.com
Okanagan Dream Builders Ltd. Trent Tinkler 250-808-1788 www.okanagandreambuilders.com
Ian Paine Construction Ltd. Ian Paine (250) 868-2133
Okanagan Glacier Homes Inc. Kirk Andersen 778-755-5003 www.okglacierhomes.com
Impact Builders Chad Jones 250-470-2269 www.impactbuilders.com Inspiration Homes Ltd. Rod Doroshuk 250-542-3111 www.inspirationhomes.ca Jaycor Homes Inc. Vince Montemurro 250-768-5070
Okanagan Sunrise Construction Ltd. Dale Ahlbaum/Nick Franz (250) 763-1461 www.OkanaganSunrise.com Okanagan Sustain Homes/Into the Woods Furniture and Cabinetry Carl St. Jean 250-260-8425 http://oksustainhomes.ca
Ski Home Limited Richard Unger 1-250-342-2555 www.skihome.ca Square Root Contracting & Consulting Ltd Mike Twack (250) 863-6576 www.sq-root.com Stonebridge Contemporary Originals Albert Van Ee or John Steinhauer 250 766 0393 Sunstar Ventures Ltd. Denis Bigham & Bob Buvyer 250-807-2270 Sunterra Custom Homes Ltd. Ranbir Nahal 250-503-8220 www.sunterracustomhomes.com
Surecraft Construction Ltd. Jim Shales - President 250 295 8012 www.surecraftconstruction.blogspot.com
Vivar Homes ( A Division of Vivar Contracting Inc.) D.J. Rasovic 250 808 5555
Team Construction Mgmt. (1981) Ltd. Charles Cullen (250) 868-8326 www.teamconstruction.ca
Webster Construction Ltd. Ken Webster (250) 763-6600 www.thewebstergroup.com
Timberhaven Homes Ltd. Scott Ross 250-878-0159 www.timberhaven.ca
Wilson and Company Ltd. James Wilson 250-869-7125
Trico Homes Inc. Jacob Kuiken 250-545-9261 www.tricohomes.com Tyee Custom Homes Ltd. Carl Lauren 1-250-427-0315 htpp://www.tyeecustomhomes.com Valux Homes Ltd Joe Rood (250) 317-1332 www.bridgesliving.com Varitec Enterprises Ltd. Don Kerr, RHP (250) 769-2375
Woodstyle Homes Ltd Donovan Imbeau (250) 558-9765 or (250) 558-9765 www.woodstyle.ca Community Developers Acorn Communities Ltd. David Pfuetzner Greg Bird 250 491 0095 www.acornhomes.com Aldebaran Enterprises Inc. John Jacobsen 1-250-306-9355 www.aldebaranhomes.com Callahan Property Group Ltd. Bob Callahan (250) 717-3000
Dilworth Quality Homes Inc. Greg Asling - General Manager, Al Ryder Building Operations Manager (250) 762-9999 www.dilworthhomes.com
Mission Group Jonathan Friesen, Randy Shier, Gerald Heinrichs, George Summach (250) 448-0016 www.themissiongroup.ca
G Group of Companies Green Solutions Grant Gaucher - President / Andrew Gaucher VP Developments (250) 712-2449 www.ggroup.ca
Molenbeek Ventures Development Corporation Wim Zuydervelt 250-764-0338 www.creeksidepark.ca
Gallagher’s Canyon Construction Al Bremner (250) 860-9013 www.gallagherscanyon.com
Ocorp Development Ltd. 250-764-1750 www.ocorpltd.com Predator Ridge Limited PartnershipLand Division Brent Ree 250-503-3976 www.predatorridge.com
George Schluessel Real Estate Investments Ltd. George Schluessel - President (403) 410-1224 www.procura.com L & S Contracting Ltd. (A Div. of Lambert & Paul Construction Ltd.) Lambert Schmalz (250) 860-2331
Rohit Communities- Copper point Resort Bobby-Jo Weibe 250 341 5745 www.copperpoint.ca
Melcor Developments Ltd. Tobi McNeil 250-717-8390 www.melcor.ca
Scuka Enterprises Ltd. Dan Scuka (250) 765-0136 www.scuka.bc.ca
Best Deal
Radius 2142•Vasile Road 2 Bedrooms starting at $299,000 (including Net Hst) Are you looking for a perfect home that is centrally located, has every convenience built-in? Then you need to look no further. Radius is the perfect place to call home! Every unit has maple cabinets throughout, granite counters in the kitchen, tile and hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances and window coverings There is underground security monitored parking, but you probably won’t need your car as the building is within walking distance to Orchard Park, restaurants, transit, banking and more! Come and visit us today and see what all the talk it about!
A Must see steve @ 250.575.5851
Showsuite open Sat & Sun Noon-4pm #413-2142 Vasile Rd. (behind Future Shop)
www.radiuskelowna.com NICHE
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DIRECTORY CHBA-CO Sopa Square Stacey Fenwick 250 762 5818 www.sopasquare.com Starland Developments Company Ltd. Kathleen Mackenzie (250) 717-8228 www.prospectkelowna.com Tyee Custom Homes Ltd. Carl Lauren 1-250-427-0315 htpp://www.tyeecustomhomes.com Woodland Hills On The Ridge Geby Wager 250-764-0626 www.woodlandhillskelowna.com Woodstock Development Inc. Dennis Kort & Jennifer Kort (250) 769-7775 www.discovereaglesview.com Design-Build Alternative Construction Inc Edmaro Cabete (250) 864-0761 www.alternativeconstruction.ca Bellamy Homes Les Bellamy (250) 470-2429 www.bellamyhomes.ca Chaparral Industries (86) Inc. John Pushor/Jim Pushor 250-765-2985 www.chaparralhomes.com
Financial Services Global West Mortgages Tanya Cederholm 250 546 3963 www.globalwestmortgages.com RBC Royal Bank Gary Eisenhut (250) 868-4188 www.rbc.com TD Canada Trust Joe Delicato (250) 763-4241 www.tdcanadatrust.com Government Offices BC Housing Peter Chau (250) 487-2521 www.bchousing.org Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation Paul Fabri (250) 712-4334 www.cmhc.ca City of Kelowna Mo Bayat - Building Inspections Manager (250) 469-8630 www.kelowna.ca Homeowner Protection Office Doug Cox (250) 646-7050 or 1-800-407-7757 www.hpo.bc.ca Home Design/ Decor Specialists
Handyman Connection Quentin Cyre (250) 717-5500 kelowna.handymanconnection.com
Clay Interiors Len Trump 250-859-3242 www.clayinteriors.com
John Bachelder Construction John Bachelder (250)862-6725 Johnbachelderconstruction.com
Dannburg Interiors Gary Munt or Scott Munt (250) 862-5277 www.dannburginteriors.com
Mandala Custom Homes Inc. Lars Chose 250-352-5582 www.mandalahomes.com
Designing with Light Supply Mike Bentien / Rob Bentien (250) 862-3671 www.designingwithlight.ca
Nesbitt Originals Paul & Jan Nesbitt (250) 762-3337 www.nesbittoriginals.com
Mullins Drafting and Design, Inc. Lee Mullins & Lani Hoff 250-717-3415 www.mullinshomedesigns.ca
Okanagan Glacier Homes Inc. Kirk Andersen 778-755-5003 www.okglacierhomes.com
Sticks and Stones Design Group Carla Fisher 250 712 9282 www.sticksandstones.ca
Okanagan Sustain Homes/Into the Woods Furniture and Cabinetry Carl St. Jean 250-260-8425 http://oksustainhomes.ca Stonebridge Contemporary Originals Albert Van Ee or John Steinhauer 250 766 0393 Techlectric Construction Company Ltd. Brad Handel 250 833 4272 www.techsmart.ca
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Insurance / Accounting Capri Insurance Services Ltd. Erika Jarvis (250) 860-2426 www.capri.ca Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants Paul Guerette (250) 712-6800 www.GrantThornton.ca
The Co-operators, Solve Insurance Sevices Inc. Dennis MacLeod 250-861-3777 www.cooperator.ca Wilson M. Beck Insurance (Kelowna) Inc. Brett Innis 250-763-3840 www.wmbeck.com Landscape IPS Contracting Services Brian Pavia 250-868-4831 http://interiorpoolandspa.com MANUFACTURER Guildmaster Furniture Ltd. Peter Ross (250) 547-2579 Guildmasterfurniture.ca Media / Marketing Okanagan Valley Newspaper Group,The (The Daily Courier) Terry Armstrong (250) 470-0721 www.kelownadailycourier.ca Professional Services Amerispec Inspection Services Murray Klingbeil/Dean Neveu 250 763 0822 www.amerispec.ca/okanagan Canaterra Property Pages Karen Thompson 1-250-575-8877 www.canaterra.com Carbon Copy Digital Paul Gervais 250-860-6928 www.carboncopydigital.com IPS Contracting Services Brian Pavia 250-868-4831 http://interiorpoolandspa.com Okanagan College Randy Werger (250) 862-5494 www.okanagan.bc.ca
Techlectric Construction Company Ltd. Brad Handel 250 833 4272 www.techsmart.c Winmar Kelowna Stewart Walker 1-250-862-3500 www.winmar.ca Realtors Century 21 Executives Bill Hubbard 250-549-2103 www.century21.ca Global West Mortgages Tanya Cederholm 250 546 3963 www.globalwestmortgages.com Renovators Chriscan.com Enterprises Ltd. Len Suchocki (250) 712-1324 www.chriscan.com Constructive Concepts Ltd. Darren Evans 250-542-1801 http://constructiveconcepts Dunamis Projects Trevor / Evangeline Neyedli 250 681 3732 www.dunamisprojects.com Gord Turner Renovations Ltd. Gord Turner (250) 469-9379 www.gtrenovations.com Hamlet Property Services Paul Day 250 215 5355 Handyman Connection Quentin Cyre (250) 717-5500 kelowna.handymanconnection.com John Bachelder Construction John Bachelder (250)862-6725 Johnbachelderconstruction.com
Pushor Mitchell LLP Brad Cronquist 1-250-869-1150 www.pushormitchell.com
Keith Dahlen Construction Ltd. - ReBath Okanagan Ken Dahlen (ReBath Okanagan www. rebathokanagan.ca) 250-545-1300 www.keithconstruction.ca
ROV Consulting Richard Visscher, P.Eng. 250-860-0412 www.rovconsulting.ca
Okanagan Glacier Homes Inc. Kirk Andersen 778-755-5003 www.okglacierhomes.com
Strong Roots Flooring Inc. Richard/Shannon Johnstone 2508087668 www.strongroots.ca
UK Trades (0775766 BC Ltd.) Ron Brewer 250 862 1574 www.uktrades.ca
SW Audio and Visual Cal McCarthy 250-868-3333 www.sw-online.com
Vivar Homes ( A Division of Vivar Contracting Inc.) D.J. Rasovic 250 808 5555
Wilson and Company Ltd. James Wilson 250-869-7125
Cambridge Elevating Inc. Jamie Hamilton 250-550-6125 www.cambridgeelevating.com
DuPont Building Innovations Ryan Foster 250-575-2545 www.construction.tyvek.ca
Iko IndustriesLtd. Vincent Carrier-Sales Representative 250-212-7742 www.iko.com
AcuTruss Industries Ltd. Barry Schick & Rob Voros 250-860-6667 www.acutruss.com
Cancadd Reproductions and Engineering Suplies Ltd. Jim Shedden 250 860 3475 www.cancadd.ca
Enviro Choice Sewage Treatment Solutions George Devlin (250) 765-8265 - 1-866-765-8265 www.envirochoice.ca
Jona Panel Sales Joe Shalapata 250-764-7595 www.jonapanels.com
All Weather Windows David Collins (250) 860-5666 www.allweatherwindows.com
Coast Wholesale Appliances Inc. Rob Siddon (250) 765-2421 www.coastappliances.com
Euroline Windows Inc. Paul Klyne/ Roel Van De Crommenacker (250) 448-8484 or (250) 718-7771 www.euroline-windows.com
Big Steel Box Troy Doell 250-763-9660 www.bigsteelbox.com
Colonial Countertops Ltd. Deeanna Wehrhahn 250-765-3004 www.colonialcountertops.com
Floform Countertops Ken Hilsenteger (250) 860-5333 http://floform.com
Bolt Security Systems Dennis Palmer 250-861-1001 www.boltsecurity.net
Creative Door Services Don McEachern 250 491 2012 www.creativedoor.com
Gienow Windows & Doors Dave Richert (250) 868-9006 or 1-800-367-9520 www.gienow.com
Broadleaf Logistics Mike Whitehead (250) 860-4470 www.broadleaflogistics.com
Cultured Stone Kim Kotowsky 250-864-8110 www.culturedstone.com
Glass Canada Inc. Debra Dotschkat 250-454-9923 http://glasscanada.net/
Burnco Rock Products (BC) Ltd. Dave Tesarski & Dean Biglow 250-769-7865 www.burnco.com
Designing with Light Supply Mike Bentien / Rob Bentien (250) 862-3671 www.designingwithlight.ca
Home Hardware Building Centre Gary Welder (250) 868-9040 www.homehardware.ca
Suppliers
K2Stone (Kelowna) Inc. Darren Kroeker 1-866-323-3035 www.k2stone.ca Kaycan Ltd. Sandra Woodcock (250) 258-8528 www.kaycan.com Kekuli Bay Cabinetry Bonnie Huber 250 558 5112 www.kekulibaycabinetry.com Kelowna Carpet One Floor and Home Gary Noble 250-762-5312 www.kelownacarpetone.com Kelowna Ready Mix Harvey Beselt (250) 762-2211
UNDER THE VERNON SUN. Tuscan-inspired luxury villas with all levels fully developed. With spectacular views of the Okanagan Lake and Valley, this exclusive community includes the Fred Couples Signature Golf Course and Vineyard.
AT T H E R I S E
• 11 Semi-detached villas available • Sweeping vistas of the valley and Okanagan Lake • Designer selected finishings • Professionally landscaped outdoor spaces Contact William McGown at 250-549-4505 or email us at vistalago@tricohomes.com www.tricohomesbc.com
Luxury Villa’s Starting From
$399,900 * Plus HST
*LImITED PRE-CONSTRUCTION OFFER
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DIRECTORY CHBA-CO Kitchenhaus Cabinets Ltd / C ash + Carry Cabinet Warehaus Jason Coroy / Brooke Nicholas 250-491-5665 / Cash & Carry 250.491.4774 www.kitchenhauscabinets.com / http:// cabinetwarehaus.com Lights Plus Enterprises Ltd. Det or Dena Gauer 250 878 5601 www.lightspluskelowna.com Mara Lumber Lou Gauthier 250-765-2963 www.maralumber.ca Norelco Cabinets Peter Raja - Owner/General Manager 250-765-2121 www.norelcocabinets.ca OK Builders SupplyLtd. Pat Kunz (250) 762-3206 www.okbuilderssupplies.com Okanagan Hardwood Flooring Co. Ltd. Steve Everitt (250) 765-2610 www.okanaganhardwoodfloors.com Paragon Surfacing Ltd. Interior Chris McCutcheon 250 861 8988 www.paragonsurfacing.com
2010-11
Phantom Screens Levon Symonds 250-762-7592 www.phantomscreens.com
Sundeck Centre Bryan Hughes & Justin Reynolds 250-766-7320 www.sundeckcentre.com
Floform Countertops Ken Hilsenteger (250) 860-5333 http://floform.com
Plasti Fab Sean McBeth 604-526-2771 www.plastifab.com
Telus Ken Perka 604 432 4847 www.telus.com/bics
Four Seasons Insulation Ltd. Roger Prato 250-861-3626 www.fourseasonsinsulation.com
Pure Granite Rocks Clark Omand 250-558-3773 www.puregranitrocks.com
The Brick (Commercial Sales Division) Tom St. George, Harinder Lalli (250) 765-2291 www.thebrick.com
GeoTility Geothermal Installations Corp. Rick Nelson 1-250-762-5776 www.geotility.ca
Robinson Lighting Centre Larry Lundgren (250) 860-9626 www.rlrbc.com
The CAT Rental Store Graham Hoffman 250-860-3510 www.catrents.ca
Glass Canada Inc. Debra Dotschkat 250-454-9923 http://glasscanada.net/
Rona Home & Garden Bill Roper & Chris Robertson 250-979-3089 www.rona.ca
Trail Appliances Terry Volden (250) 862-3838 www.trailappliances.com
Hi-Test Exteriors Ltd. Jason Gagnon-Owner 1-250-808-8859
Steel-Craft Door Products Ltd. Henry Howe 250-765-4765 www.steel-craft.ca
Westwood Fine Cabinetry Inc. Kelly Kennedy - Business Development Manager (250) 860-3900 www.westwoodfinecabinetrry.com
Keith Dahlen Construction Ltd. - ReBath Okanagan Ken Dahlen (ReBath Okanagan www. rebathokanagan.ca) 250-545-1300 www.keithconstruction.ca
Wolseley Kitchen & Bath Classics Hayley Mepham & Norm Schwab 250-860-4366 www.wolseleyinc.ca
Kekuli Bay Cabinetry Bonnie Huber 250 558 5112 www.kekulibaycabinetry.com
Trade Contractors
Kilo-Womp Electric Ltd. Keith Wemp (250) 861-3939
Strong Roots Flooring Inc. Richard/Shannon Johnstone 2508087668 www.strongroots.ca
Ace Plumbing & Heating Brian Walter 250-861-6696 www.aceplumbing.bz Bath Fitter Ian Gorst 250-860-8678 www.bathfitter.com
“We build your home like it’s our own”
Beyond Audio Inc. Mike Ohman (250) 860-9929 www.beyondaudio.com Bolt Security Systems Dennis Palmer 250-861-1001 www.boltsecurity.net
Experience an Award Winning Builder www.edgecombebuilders.com
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Loney Plumbing Inc. Richard Loney 250-470-0108 Lynx Brand Fence Products John Denney 250 765 1468 www.lynxfence.com Madge Contracting Ltd. Chris Romano 250-765-1180 www.madgeroofing.com Nicholson Enterprises Bob Nicholson 250-212-1758
CDN Roof Doctor Ltd. Howard Pfefferle / Ken Langton (250) 765-3013 www.roofdoctor.ca
Norelco Cabinets Peter Raja - Owner/General Manager 250-765-2121 www.norelcocabinets.ca
CertaPro Painters Jason McMurray (250) 868-5126 www.certapro.com
Okanagan Solar Ltd. Rob Monteith 250 801 9662 www.okanagansolar.ca
Crystal Classic Exteriors Inc. Dan Poznikoff 250-861-5988 www.crystalclassic.ca
Square Root Contracting & Consulting Ltd Mike Twack (250) 863-6576 www.sq-root.com
Discovery Glass & Aluminum Inc. Gary Alton 778-753-5966 www.discoveryglass.ca
Starwatch Audio Video Peter Tischler 1-250-717-0022 www.starwatchav.com.
PINE LIGHTING 250-862-3245 • 1953 BARON ROAD, KELOWNA
Strong Roots Flooring Inc. Richard/Shannon Johnstone 2508087668 www.strongroots.ca Sundeck Centre Bryan Hughes & Justin Reynolds 250-766-7320 www.sundeckcentre.com Techlectric Construction Company Ltd. Brad Handel 250 833 4272 www.techsmart.ca Vivar Homes ( A Division of Vivar Contracting Inc.) D.J. Rasovic 250 808 5555 Utility Companies FortisBC Energy Inc. Brent Hunt (250) 868-4522 wwwfortisbc.com FortisBC Inc. Kim Jones (250) 717-0808 www.fortisbc.com Shaw Cablesystems GP Marc Reinhart (250) 712-2345 www.shaw.ca
Visit pinelighting.xolights.com to see our selections! 32 years in Business!
Telus Ken Perka 604 432 4847 www.telus.com/bics
Design and Installation of Custom Plumbing and Radiant Heating Systems
Warranty Companies National Home Warranty Programs Gord Houston 1-604-575-3536 www.nationalhomewarranty.com Pacific Home Warranty Insurance Services Inc. Josh Cudmore 1 604 574 4776 www.pacificwarranty.com Travelers Guarantee Company of Canada Marvin Friesen - Kelowna Ed Tsumura - Vancouver 1-800-555-9431 www.travelersguarantee.com
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Born and Raised in Kelowna. Dedicated to Serving Our Customers for Years to Come.
(250)470-0108
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KELOWNA CUSTOM THEATRES
fullhouse automation Convenient and simple multi-room protection and entertainment
by Bobbi-Sue Menard
W
hen the time comes to cocoon in your home with a great movie or your favourite tunes on the sound system the experience should be easy. With full house automation your life is simple from turning on the lights to switching on the gas fireplace. Automation is one of the rapidly growing segments of the home electronics marketplace; home theatres and multi-room entertainment systems are sought after options. Ryan Dockrill, owner of Kelowna Custom Theatres, has watched his business stretch from installing beautiful home theatres to installing the digital infrastructure to operate a modern home. Dockrill opened Kelowna Custom Theatres in 2005 after moving to Kelowna from Edmonton. The prairie transplant has always loved electronics and Kelowna was the right place to launch the company. Ninety per cent of Kelowna Custom Theatres’ business is new home installation, with space on the calendar for renovations and commercial work. The top reason new home owners are choosing full house automation is to reduce visual clutter, says Dockrill. “You have one place to operate the home from. It is so convenient and simple. Homeowners can program time of day lighting, vacation time for mechanical systems while the owner is traveling, and have everything scheduled to turn on again as the owner arrives home.” Multi-room music systems are seamlessly integrated into home design and can be used by every member of the family. Music sources include satellite radio, iPod, even the lowly CD. Family members can listen to different music in different rooms simultaneously, even outdoors. Home theatres have become the first choice for indoor entertainment for many homeowners. Dockrill has installed systems from basic to extravagant. The swimpond is a bold step forward For a truly spectacular home theatre environment Kelowna Custom Theatres in the evolution of man-made aquatic will do a complete room analysis for acoustics and sight lines based on the seatfacilities, combining design, an ing plan. Home owner preferences can be programmed into the system; the understanding of how ecological sound field in the room will deliver a flawlessly tailored experience. The home systems work and the latest European theatre room itself can have an easy-to-use master control switch, lower and environmental technology to produce raise the curtain with the touch of button, operate lights and start the show. one of the most innovative and “We are really flexible and work with what we’ve got,” says Dockrill. The complete garden features range of possibilities in home electronics is so big and is developing new currently available. technologies so quickly home owners can pick and choose the right option for their lifestyle. Tommie Award Winner Where Dockrill keeps the options simpler is working with preferred manuGOLD 2006 / 2007 / 2008 facturers. The bulk of equipment he installs is Russound and ColoradoVNet. Georgie Award Winner N “That is just the best product you can get for the money by far.” GOLD 2008
A Quality of Life Without Compromise
.764.9102 250 www.swimpond.com
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A-DIRECT ACCESS GLASS
clearlya success
Residential glass specialist keeps customers coming back
by Bobbi-Sue Menard
T
he concept of a full service residential glass store has evolved. Ray Mitchell of A-Direct Access Glass has been installing, repairing and replacing glass in homes since 1997. Their business includes shower enclosures, solariums, sun rooms, custom mirrors, and custom projects. Mithell happily admits to having been putting glass into holes for 36 years. He started out working with automotive glass and carefully chose to specialize the company in residential glass. The retail location and showroom in central Kelowna on Dolphin Avenue has been the corporate home since day one. Choosing the right location and keeping it has been a big part of the company’s success. “We were easy to find and people got to know us. They have kept coming back.” Bathrooms are the main focus of A-Direct Custom Glass. Mitchell says the company made the decision to focus on glass showers, “because we are particularly good at it.” It was a conscious choice to work with mid to high end shower installations. The company has invested time and training into working with custom installs. “Quality bathroom installs are our target. We work in the high end marketplace but because we have the skills to install properly and know the tricks of the trade we are able to be competitive from the midpoint of the market to the high end.” A-Direct Custom Glass works with contractors and the general public. Building good relationships with reputable firms has been a part of the A-Direct story. Tommy Award winning Gord Turner Renovations and luxury home builder, San Marc Custom Homes, are consistent A-Direct clients. “Contractors will use our products and services over and over again because they know the service will be there. We work really hard on that.” Service carries over into parts of the business that aren’t immediately obvious. A- Direct Access Glass carries a wide selection of parts for showers that aren’t available anywhere else in town. “I do try to keep in the parts that people are eventually going to need, but the larger stores don’t see a point in carrying. If we can fix a shower for a customer so they get a few more years from it, hopefully they will come back when they need a new shower.” Mitchell also carries one product that will make the owners of glass showers happy, an ultra environmentally friendly glass cleaner that will abolish hard N water and scale from the shower door.
WE CAN SEE WELL WATER BENEATH THE GROUND
www.findwellwater.ca Maximize your Well Investment Call Before You Drill! Toll-free 877-388-7388 advertisement
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COMPANY:
TREELINE DESIGNS & CREATIONS
workingwith wood
Hewn timber adds aesthetic appeal to new homes and renos
by Bobbi-Sue Menard
T
he warmth and feel of natural wood and timber is unmatched in the world of building materials. Chris Zilinski with Treeline Designs & Creations works with the organic shapes of natural wood, and dramatic look of hewn timber to create a coveted West Coast and Canadiana custom aesthetic for his customers. Treeline Creations’ work can be seen in projects as diverse as a simple backyard gazebo to the majestic log superstructures and timber accents at The Outback in Vernon, U.B.C. in Vancouver, luxury homes in Whistler, and the Kamloops Airport. Zilinski has a burgeoning interior residential business in the southern interior. The company portfolio includes curved stairwell railings from a single tree, railings constructed from mixed materials including stone, and wrought iron and beautiful mantles. The company works with new home builds and renovations. New home design is slightly simpler as during the construction process the building can be tweaked to match available wood. Existing homes can take a little longer to source the proper piece but Zilinski says he has found the right piece for every project. Treeline Designs & Creations has been in business since 1999 and worked all over the province. With so many years in the industry Zilinski has the contacts to find the perfect piece of wood to customize to a project. “We look at your space, what you want and can find the wood to match. A curved railing that is perfectly matched to your stairwell, loft or deck is our specialty,” says Zilinski. Specialty products including custom furniture builds, original cabinetry, interior surfacing and custom bars are often the perfect finishing touch in homes with a focus on organic materials. It isn’t just about the detail work of interior finishing at Treeline. Outbuildings including timber framed garages, gazebos and sheds are popular with many home owners. The romance and appeal of wood makes it an easy option for home owners looking for a building that reflects the surrounding area. One of Zilinski’s favourite recent projects is a magical tree house, a child’s dream, with a massive centre column tree, curved stair well, a slide carved from a single piece of timber and a swing set. Customers are only limited by imagination and budget says Zilinski, “People who are looking for a structure made from wood or timber know they like the look of what they are choosing. Our job is to make sure not only is it well made, but unique for that customer.” N
Custom Log & Timber Work
250•215•3498 • www.treelinecreations.ca
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CRAFTSMAN:
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GUILDMASTER FURNITURE
THE
wondersof wood Custom furniture making is not like mass production
P
eter Ross, owner of Guildmaster Furniture, is more than anything a master craftsman. Peter works in wood, and his kitchens and dining rooms, entertainment centers, limited edition furniture and other fine pieces are as much works of art as they are functional. When 80 per cent of your clients are repeat customers, you are doing something very right. Ross began working in wood in the 1970s, when he built, restored and repaired acoustic musical instruments such as guitars, banjos and mandolins. In 1984 Guildmaster Furniture opened its doors in Vernon, B.C., specializing in high end custom furniture, cabinetry and architectural mill work. Peter Ross even rose to the challenge to create stunning woodwork for custom yachts, but that took him away from home a great deal, and ultimately, he settled back in the North Okanagan. Ross says he produces a few pieces of furniture in each style, but his work isn’t about mass production. “It’s almost like limited edition artwork,” says Ross. “I am pretty much an incurable craftsman.” Kitchens are a big part of Guildmaster’s portfolio, and they have designed and installed some memorable rooms. Ross knows it takes a great deal of time and commitment to build a dream kitchen with their clients. Finding just the right granite or the perfect flooring is all part of the process.
by Deanna Rainey
“We design the kitchens with the clients and for the clients. Right from the moldings, each kitchen is completely unique to that client. We know what is going in every cabinet before we start building,” Ross explains. “The key to design is function.” Trends come and go, but Ross advises his clients to seek quality work that will withstand the test of time. “Longevity is what we encourage to our clients. I recommend they pick something that they really like. You can combine traditional pieces with a contemporary look, and the result is something they won’t be bored with in five or seven years,” says Ross. When working on a kitchen, Ross says, there are several key issues to consider. How long do you plan on being in that home? What is the budget? What other functions will your kitchen be used for? “We have had clients who may be short on budget,” Ross laughs, “but we’re never short on imagination. We haven’t run out of imagination yet.” Bedrooms, home offices, coffee tables, dining room tables, entertainment centers and other furnishings may all be part of a single project, along with the custom kitchens. Many different types of wood and design are available. Peter Ross wants Guildmaster to be known for its top of the line furniture, great service and good dollar value. With his experience, imagination and talN ent, there is every reason to believe his clients will receive just that.
“The only limitation to what one can create with wood is imagination.”
Custom Furniture • Architectural • Millwork Elite Home Interiors • Cabinetry Artistic Ndesigns crafted with an uncompromised commitment to quality
#10 Harris Creek Road, Lumby BC • 250-547-2579 • www.guildmasterfurniture.ca
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okanagan solar centre
capturethe daylight Solatube adds inner illumination from outside
BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON
I
magine being able to capture daylight on your roof, free, and run it down a tube just about any spot in your home where you need to chase shadows away. That’s the concept behind the tubular daylighting device. This hot home design product is marketed under the name Solatube, the industry leader, showcased at Solar Centre in Kelowna. Think of the decor situation that doesn’t call for an expensive painting or new colour scheme, just more light–consistent, natural light. There’s the work area that cries for directed light. There’s the seasonal depression that gives way to sunlight. These are situations where Solatube may just ride to your rescue. You may think the tubular daylighting device is a strange creature when you first see it at the Solar Centre showroom. A small dome sits up on the roof, a shaft runs down toward the room and a diffuser appears on the ceiling much like an electric light fixture. If you look closely you’ll see the tube is lined with reflective material that can pull light downward for more than 30 feet. “The Spectralight Infinity interior tubing is 99.7 per cent reflective,” explained Craig McJannet, head of Solar Centre. “The device is designed to simply collect and reflect light.” It puts an end to full dependence on power-guzzling, environment-polluting electricity. Make no mistake: Solatube is not a skylight. A skylight is merely a ceiling window, and comes with a host of problems: How to achieve shade when midsummer sun blazes, how to protect furniture and flooring, how to prevent leakage when it rains, and even how to keep it clean. A Solatube device doesn’t knock out the ceiling, it funnels light down to where you want it, said McJannet. “It’s free daylight.” The lining blocks UV rays and you won’t find your leather or hardwood faded. “It transfers very little heat into the home in summer, and you lose very little heat in winter,” added McJannet. The amount of light pulled down is rather amazing. The small size of the device can easily fool you; it provides as much light as you’d expect from a skylight many times larger. Solatube, an innovation on traditional solar power, is tapping into the homeowner desire to use less non-renewable energy, calling on the sun’s generous free power. “Yes, it’s a green product. I believe in keeping the world as clean as we can,” said McJannet. Solatube systems can be part of a new build, a renovation, or an add-on for 5 STAR CAMPING REDEFINED AT COPPER POINT RESORT an existing home. They can be paired with solar-powered attic fans that keep Resort Now Open! the home cool and dry, or incorporate add-on kits for night-time lighting or Own your piece of adventure or book your getaway today! ventilation. By the way, Solar Centre is the only B.C. dealer. While you’re thinking about greening your home, take a look at Solar Centre’s shades and blinds, under the names Grabber and Habitat. Solar blinds block summer sun and UV rays but allow you to see that spectacular outdoor scene that attracted you to live in the Okanagan. Block the heat but enjoy the N view. Check www.solarcentre.ca.
Roughin’ It
For more info visit us at
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MODERN EXTERIORS LTD.
A lasting HOME finish
Before
After
Dress your home
BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON
E
very now and then, brainy people doing research and development come up with a product that really makes a difference right down where we live. It’s happened again with the development of CHIC liquid vinyl. It’s a product that answers a dream many of us thought was the impossible dream: A finish on our home’s exterior that would actually last. We may have wrestled for years with various paints and finishes, various siding materials, but always we hit that expiration wall. Whatever we apply, it wears out, fades and deteriorates. That’s mainly because our exterior walls face a relentless battle against the elements. Still, we dream of laying down the paint brush forever. We dream of never needing to resurface our home’s exterior again. The CHIC Liquid vinyl system makes promises that are worth looking into. It may be the best protection ever devised for a building’s exterior, whether that is stucco, masonry, metal, wood, fibrecement, brick, block, aluminum, asbestos or vinyl siding. This liquid vinyl is not paint. It’s a high viscosity liquid resin applied coating system. The CHIC liquid vinyl system bonds proprietary high-strength polymers together. The result is solid durability, superior strength and a weather-resistant finish. This stuff has been around long enough to prove itself. Developed in England in the 1960s, it has been used in North America since 1984. It stopped the erosion of a light house on Canada’s west coast, where driven rain and salt water were literally eating the paint off the surface. It keeps the before Peach Arch at the Canada/U.S. border looking pristine and protects Vancouver’s Science World building. Modern Exteriors Ltd. in Vernon is the place to tap into the CHIC Liquid vinyl system. Gary and Graham Galbraith, a father-and-son team, offer this permanent solution to customers, who can choose from more than 2,000 standard colours or get customized colour. The highly trained applicators, long term ChiC security and ease of maintenance keep calling forth high praise from customers. “Their positive feedback and obvious pride in the durability and beauty of their walls, sometimes decades after the application, is the most rewarding part of the business,” said Graham. You’d expect something this strong to come with heavy-duty toxicity, but no, it’s water based and environmentally friendly with no heavy metals or volatile spirits. “Since the coating is permanent, the industrial impact inherent in repetitive applications of regular paint is avoided. We think these factors are highly valued by contemporary home owners,” said Graham. N
Lifetime warranty for your stucco and wood
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PRODUCT:
VALLEY CANVAS & AWNING
theambiant
awning
T
Expertly made to give you shade
BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON
he warm Okanagan seasons lure us outdoors, calling us to do as much of our living as possible in the fresh air. Alas, some activities must be done indoors, but it’s possible to extend our indoor spaces into the ambiance of outdoors with the simple addition of awnings. Imagine an awning or canopy stretching over your pool and patio. You’ll spend so much more time out there, sipping lemonade, soaking in the season’s warmth but out of the direct blaze of the sun. The chance rain-squall won’t intimidate you and your friends, tucked under the awning. If you have a traditional sun deck, so popular in Okanagan home construction, you likely don’t use it often because it’s often so fiercely hot out there. Besides, you feel conspicuously on display. There are several awning treatments that can solve that problem. A wide awning with an optional drop screen on the south or west can do wonders to shield your gathering. Or you can create a cozy outdoor area with a retractable screen enclosure in a covered deck. Awnings are not a new idea. Roughly 5,000 B.C., Jonah discovered the benefit of shade from a vine, in probably the earliest recorded appearance of the awning concept in world literature. Ancient Egyptian and Syrian records note
woven mats that shaded market stalls. Leave it to the Romans to invent retractable awnings to extend over their stadiums, including the famous Coliseum. European and North American store fronts sprouted canvas duck awnings in the nineteenth century, both for shade and to display business names, lending charm to the streetscape. We’ve rediscovered the awning concept for homes, and nowhere is it more appropriate than the sunny Okanagan. Today’s awnings are tough, made of acrylic fabrics that resist fading and cracking, coated with Teflon-type substances so water beads off. Advances in retractable arms enable almost any design and motorized options make management a breeze. The fixed-framed awning style adds personality to the home, much like artistically arched eyebrows. Colours and styles in awnings open possibilities for a new fashion statement in outdoor decor. Valley Canvas and Awning has been around since 1967 and is the largest manufacturer of awnings and fabric-based products in the B.C. Interior. N Commercial, industrial and customized products are also available.
Naturally Inspired Design from Concept to Completion
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KOEDA
fine floors echo
heritage
BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON
Customized hardwood flooring with a variety of looks
H
e comes from a Japanese Samurai warrior heritage, his grandfather a United Church minister sent to Canada in an earlier generation. His father is Stan Taneda, Master of Bonsai; his brother, Chris Taneda of karate fame. It all sifts into the genes of Phil Taneda of Koeda Hardwood Floors. “I’m wired to get things done,” said Phil, explaining the impact of his heritage. What he gets done best is customizing hardwood into dream flooring. He and his business partner, Kerry Baron, started Koeda Hardwood Flooring six years ago as a division of Koeda Forest Products. The concept is focused: Making customised hardwood flooring for anything from multi-million dollar homes to small cottages. Starting with eastern sugar maple, (they like to stick to North American woods), they craft the look of almost any wood for any kind of ambiance. To create a variety of looks, wood colour is altered by staining, texture is changed with hand scraping or wire brushing, acid-etching changes tannins in the wood, or a method called French bleed is used to blacken depressions. The methods produce everything from the look of light ash to antique mahogany. Treatments on large pieces produce beauty features in the wood known as birdseyes, or fiddle back, which looks like the back of a guitar. Antique nails can be used. “We are much like a chef with no menu. You tell us your idea and we’ll create it,” explained Phil. For example, one homeowner wanted a Cape Cod look, a white-grey flooring evoking an old wharf. They did it. In another case, Phil took wood with a brand new walnut look and aged it 200 years with the French bleed process for a heritage look. Another client wanted white hardwood for a Caribbean feel in the home. That too was produced. Koeda flooring can be seen in places as diverse as Kelowna’s Laurel Building to the Torino Olympics. Phil noted hardwood from a box comes in small pieces, but his plant can produce planks that are 12 to 16 feet long. The advantage is seen in homes built on large scales. The smaller hardwood pieces just don’t do justice to the setting. Koeda’s large planks are proportionate to the open spaces and long The Fence Brand You Can Trust Since 1971 lines of today’s high end homes. The plant on Campion Road first straight-lines the raw wood and adds tongue-and-grove edges. It’s sorted and sized. Next it is distressed or surfaced with wire brushing. Cracks are filled, and the wood is stained and dried. German hard wax oils are used for an eco-friendly finish. “The proof is in your nose,” said Phil. Finishes are durable, easy to repair and safe. Koeda produces hardwood for such well known builders as San Marc, Fawdry, Rykon, Douglas Lake, Timberhaven, Heirloom and Dilworth Homes. “I like to create things; I like to make a lasting impression for people’s homes,” said Phil. His success is seen when visitors walk into a home on his hardwood www.lynxfence.com and it becomes the focal point, the first thing to impress. N
904 Alsgard St Kelowna • 250-765-1468
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CARLO DISTEFANO
space, light, landscape Architecture is large scale art
BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON
I
t’s no surprise to trace the growth of a boy into a successful architect and see the similarity to the growth of an idea into a home complex. Carlo DiStefano grew up racing karts with his brothers and dreaming of being a comic book illustrator. Concrete inspired him–no surprise because his family owns a large concrete supply company in Calgary. While studying in Calgary, Montreal and Barcelona, Carlo gained a global design perspective. He worked on architectural projects in Quebec, Ontario and the United States, then returned to Calgary to work with Hutchinson Architects. But the future held his own distinct role. Carlo explains how architecture captured him so completely: “Coming from an arts background the creation and creative process is my driving force. Extend your outdoor experience up to year Architecture is essentially large scale art that deals with space, light, and round with a Sunview Solarium or Conservatory. connections to the landscape and of course this is layered with the functional needs of the building. Bringing all these elements seamlessly together leaves the user feeling inspired and connected to the land, and this is extremely rewarding.” This was the vision that launched DiStefano Architecture. Before long, a prime Kelowna project lured the firm to the Okanagan: Prato Square. It started with the same kinds of creative urges that shaped Carlo’s youth. People dreamed of homes–simple, connected, with an artistic flare. “One of the most rewarding parts of being an architect is being inspired by my clients as we work through ideas for their home or project,” said Carlo. Prato Square sits graciously on the corner of Harvey and Ellis near city centre, offering the dream of a home to 144 families. The first phase is complete, with 48 suites in a seven storey building. Contemporary styling and classic sophistication define Prato Square. The second and third phases will feature outdoor amenity space with trellised rooftop terraces. The fourth phase will nearly mirror the first. When complete, Prato Square will group four buildings around a central landscaped plaza. That outdoor space plus grand scale balconies were main driving points of the design. Affordable suites will be mixed throughout as a commitment to community housing. In the structure you see Carlo’s touch: Smooth-faced brick interplays with rough split-face concrete block. Metal canopies wrap the buildings, cap them and mark entry points. Exposed architectural concrete plinth provides anchor. Still a lover of racing and drawing, Carlo clearly puts his creative urges into 1-800-668-2870 www.sunviewsolariums.ca N his architectural work. Custom Built in Canada, Just for You! Solariums • Patio Covers • Conservatories
Could this be your home?
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PRO SOURCE
workingwith water
The Kelowna source for ponds, irrigation and landscape lighting
by DEANNA MERRICK
I
n an agriculture and tourism mecca such as the Okanagan, irrigation reigns supreme; water, a cherished commodity. Irrigation and landscaping supplies are the backbone upon which Pro Source Irrigation Supply has built a strong reputation. Pro Source works with commercial, residential, agricultural irrigation and landscaping customers, delivering on high expectations through a direct focus on personal service. Pro Source is a retail and wholesale outlet who specialize in products for pond equipment, irrigation equipment and landscape lighting, along with irrigation design, through their three stores in Kelowna, Rutland and West Kelowna. In the City of Kelowna’s irrigation district, permits are now necessary for irrigation systems on any residential lands. New properties and renovations larger than 10 by 10 square meters must have a permit. Clients receive sound advice and guidance from the professionals at Pro Source, who are well-versed in both the bylaws of the city and the needs of the consumer. Irrigation is a major part of Pro Source’s business. “Our customers can come to us and we’ll give them the tools they need to do a scale drawing of their yard,” explains Pro Source owner Sean Minaker. “We then put together a certified irrigation design they can review with us. With Pro Source products, they’ll have everything they need to install their own irrigation system.” After fire destroyed our Kirschner Rd store Irrigation equipment includes products by Rainbird, Toro, Irritrol and K-rain. Their pond equipment is manufactured by Atlantic, ProEco and EasyPro. we now have 3 locations to serve you: They use Kichler Landscape Lighting. Minaker says that while solar lights are very popular right now, they do not provide the lighting and overall effect most people are looking for. Instead, Pro Source sells a lot of LED products. The benefits include a great deal of energy efficiency, a longer life and a much brighter effect in your yard. “We encourage the use of accent lights as much as possible, on features in the yard, to bring out the nighttime beauty that would otherwise go unseen,” Minaker says. Ponds are another feature that is growing in popularity. Pro Source stocks a range of equipment for landscape ponds, koi ponds, water features, waterfalls and bubbling rocks. They carry pumps, filters, pond lights, ionizers, pond liners and more. When a major fire destroyed their Kelowna store last year, Minaker said, the determined employees at Pro Source had the business rebuilt and operating a mere month afterward. “We haven’t skipped a beat. We have very loyal customers who followed us.” #2, 1977 Kirschner Rd. Kelowna 250-862-9424 Along with their reputation and wide range of products, professional staff is the key to Pro Source’s success. 207 Asher Rd. Kelowna 778-753-9424 “We are a member of the Irrigation Association of B.C.. We have three certi1868 Byland Rd. West Kelowna 250-454-9424 fied irrigation designers on hand, and water conservation is a very big part of Irrigation Equipment• Certified Irrigation Designs the professional side of our business. Our staff of 16 are trained to do things N right.” Pond Equipment•Landscape Lighting
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Home by Bercum Builders
Proud supplierEnjoy of granite quartz countertops Greatand Outdoor Living to multiple gold and silver Tommie and show Georgie Did you know that sunroom additions an average return on investment of 108%? award winning homes including Woodstyle Homes “Best Kitchen in BC over $100K”
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