Now in its 91st year, the PNE Prize Home Lottery is more than just a draw — it’s a deeply rooted tradition.

“It’s the oldest prize home lottery in North America, and, I believe, the most beloved — because of the tradition,” says PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance.

This year’s Langley-based prize house represents more than just a dream home, says Ballance, as the revenue supports the PNE’s non-revenue-producing initiatives like its agriculture programs. “It has a special place in the heart of a lot of British Columbians.”

Showcasing B.C.-based builders and designers, Miracon Developments, named Best Single-Family Builder of the Year at the 2025 HAVAN Awards and Best Residential Community of the Year at the 2025 Georgie Awards , designed and built the residence with interior design by Brown & Co Interior Design.

The Grand Home Prize Package, valued at $2.5 million, is move-in ready and features furnishings by Yaletown Interiors, energy-efficient smart-home technology supported by BC Hydro and a Husqvarna yard care package.

It’s the fourth year in a row Langley has been selected as the location for the PNE Prize Home, and this year’s home, with its 3,292 square feet of living space with a flexible, three-storey layout, will go to one lucky ticket buyer following the draw on Sept. 8.

The home’s main floor features an open-concept great room and kitchen/dining area designed for connection and comfort. There’s a mudroom corridor off the garage, a half-bath, and — a thoughtful touch in today’s tech-saturated world — a library-styled den for kicking back and reading a good book.

There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. A legal two-bedroom basement suite and a separate downstairs whiskey-tasting room complete the residence.

Every space invites you to slow down, unwind, and connect with your surroundings and with the home, says interior designer Sara Brown, principal at Brown & Co.

Brown wanted to create an “earthy modern” esthetic: a sense of warmth and moodiness that makes the home feel lived-in and timeless. An eclectic mix of metals, wood, vintage brass and pottery in the spacious kitchen captures that weathered look.

“We brought in some darker paint colours just to add a little bit of contrast while still leaving it bright with the open upper floor,” she says, noting the earthy, cracked-pepper coloured wall and ceiling paint in the den.

Maple Ridge artist Leisa Marie was commissioned to create a series of mixed media and watercolours inspired by the region’s natural surroundings, and her work is featured throughout the home, adding to the lived-in esthetic Brown had in mind.

Nature is within easy reach with a park and walking trails behind the home. “This is a City of Langley green space and walking park, so nothing will ever be built back there,” says Ballance.

The 2025 Prize Home is located at 19619 76B Ave, Langley Township and can be toured from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays until Aug. 23. Free tour tickets are available through TicketLeader .

In addition to the grand Prize Home package, ticket purchasers have the chance to win one of five vehicles from Chevrolet and Cadillac, five $10,000 cash prizes, two seven-day cruise packages with Holland America plus $1,500 in cash; a Winnebago Micro Minnie Trailer from Woody’s RV World; a 2025 Harley-Davidson Street Bob from Trev Deeley Motorcycles; and a hot tub package from Beachcomber Hot Tubs Group.

There are four PNE Prize Home ticket options: bundles of two tickets for $35, six tickets for $80, 15 tickets for $165 and 30 tickets for $285, all available online at  pneprizehome.ca , via phone at 604-678-4663, or toll-free at 1-877-946-4663. The deadline to purchase tickets is Sept. 1.

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The ongoing love affair with coneflowers is only growing stronger with the introduction of so many new varieties.

Native to central and eastern North America, echinaceas are hardy sun and heat tolerant plants that have an old-fashioned charm and are very pollinator and wildlife friendly. In terms of recent breeding, the emphasis has been on developing new colours, flower forms and climate adaptable plants that can take the heat, withstand drought and survive the cold.

Seedling varieties have also improved over the past few years. Echinacea White Swan was, for years, the go-to white, but E. PowWow White is a significantly improved variety with great vigour and a distinctive yellow cone at its centre. The older Echinacea purpurea is still grown and appreciated, but E. Magnus Superior has a much-improved habit and large, distinctive, magenta pink flowers with an orange centre cone. Perhaps the best seed-grown variety today is E. PowWow Wild Berry. It grows about 21 inches (55 centimetres) tall, has a wonderful growing habit and produces deep magenta pink flowers with an attractive orange cone.

The improved Prairie Splendor series offers some of the hardiest of all echinaceas. This compact series is hardy to zone 3, grows about 16 to 18 inches (40-45 cm) tall and flowers up to three weeks earlier than its traditional cousins. Available in shades of pink, magenta and white, these varieties are easy to grow and are reliable hot summer performers.

A significant seed breakthrough has been achieved in the multi-colours of E. Cheyenne Spirit. Grown in the garden as a mixed collection, its rich summer colours of yellows, oranges and reds look almost like a wildflower display that continues blooming well into late summer. There are many other novel seed varieties, like the tricolours of E. Green Twister and the lacy white of E. Hula Dancer.

The advancement of vegetative echinacea has made some very significant changes. One of the leading series today is E. Sombrero from Darwin Plants in the Netherlands, which is now part of the Ball Horticultural Company. What is unique about this series is the wide selection of vibrant colours, ranging from the hot orange of adobe orange and the spectacular red of salsa red to hot pink rosada and pure white blanco. This amazing colour spectrum also includes three shades of yellow, a fuchsia named flamingo and Baja burgundy. All in this series have a similar height range of 18 to 20 inches (46-51 cm) and a longer bloom period of June through August. Rated zone 4b, these echinaceas are very hardy and have excellent heat and drought tolerance. I love their easy maintenance and how clean and fresh they look throughout the summer.

For a completely unique look, Darwin Plants has introduced a series called E. Double Scoop, the first fully double echinaceas that are available in an array of colours from bubble gum (a lovely pink), lemon cream, mandarin orange, watermelon deluxe, magenta cranberry red and raspberry (a hot pink). These double echinaceas all grow about 20 to 24 inches (46-81 cm) tall and are very full and bushy. They offer a different look for your garden from traditional echinaceas, but one I’m sure you will enjoy. Like the E. Sombreros, they are hardy to zone 4a and are both heat and drought tolerant. They will give your garden a fresh, new look.

Danziger is one of Europe’s great plant breeders, developing many new plants each year, and they have now introduced both the Panama and the Guatemala series of echinaceas. Panama red has certainly turned heads for its brilliant red colour and long flowering habit from late spring into fall. Its companion, Panama rose, a vibrant hot pink, is also a long bloomer. Both are very cold and heat tolerant, making them well adapted for today’s climate realities. If you’re looking for more compact varieties, they grow only about 12 inches (30 cm) tall.

Also very compact, Guatemala echinaceas are similar to the Panama varieties, but they bloom earlier. Two colours in this series are amazing. Papaya, a fiery red-orange, and Guatemala gold, a vibrant golden yellow, are the most sought-after colours. These echinaceas are also very winter hardy and summer heat and drought tolerant.

Monrovia Nurseries in California and Oregon have introduced a very different echinacea called E. Evolution Colorific. Each bloom has a green cone and the petal colours range from yellow to deep rose. The transitioning of the colours is what makes them so striking. Most of this changing of colours happens during cooler temperatures, and it’s a bit dramatic and quite unique.

When I attended Cultivate, North America’s No. 1 horticultural show, which was held last year in Ohio, a friend of mine insisted that I check out a new display of echinaceas from Bull Plant Genetics in Germany. Bull Plant Genetics is renowned in both Europe and North America for their breeding of sunbeckias, heleniums and echinaceas. They introduced the SunMagic Vintage series of echinaceas, some of the longest flowering varieties, blooming from June well into fall. They also hold their beautiful cones even after a period of frost, making them ideal for winter interest. Like most of the new varieties, they are very cold hardy to zone 4 and hold up nicely in summer heat. Growing about 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm), these new varieties are very strong plants.

The SunMagic Vintage series has 14 different colours from electric orange, mango (a peachy yellow), pearl white and hot red to lavender and lipstick (a summery pink). They probably have the widest selection of echinacea colours, and they are incredibly vigorous plants. Many growers in B.C. are trialling them now with some impressive results.

When Proven Winners conducted a survey last year to determine the most popular perennials, hostas, salvias and echinaceas, in that order, were ranked as the top three. With all these new varieties, I expect echinaceas will jump even higher in the ratings.

Most varieties will be available over the next year or so. Be sure to give them a try — you won’t be disappointed.

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Whether prices are skyrocketing, plateauing or, as statistics currently bear out, declining , the real estate market remains a hot topic in Vancouver. One persistent theme is which neighbourhood offers more bang for your buck, with some areas attracting urban singles and/or downsizers while others are hubs for young families. In this piece we’re looking at the difference in what $1 million, or close to it, can get today’s homebuyer in two vastly different neighbourhoods — urban, close-to-the-ocean Kitsilano in Vancouver and suburban, highway-adjacent Walnut Grove in the Township of Langley.

Two-bedroom-plus-den, 905-square-foot townhome in Kitsilano

Listing address: 12-2375 W. Broadway, Vancouver

Listing price: $975,000

Listing agent: Ben Kay PREC at Macdonald Realty

Living on busy West Broadway might not sound appealing at first, but this two-bed-plus-den, two-bath, 905-square-foot townhome has a fenced patio and faces the quiet (north) side of the street. “You wouldn’t necessarily know that you’re on a busy street when you’re inside the unit, because all you can hear is the birdsong outside,” says realtor Ben Kay. “I do think that some buyers are not looking at this property because they’re writing it off over the address. And that is, in part why this is the best priced townhouse in all of Kits.” The fully renovated home has an open-concept main floor, engineered flooring and a modern kitchen. An added bonus: a reverse floor plan. “You walk in on the bedroom floor upstairs, and the living space is below. So if someone wants to, say, use one of the bedrooms as a work station or guest room, you can have a quiet space away from the main living and entertaining areas.” Local landmarks include Connaught Park and the Arbutus Greenway. Future landmarks include the Arbutus SkyTrain station, currently scheduled for “late 2027.” Also included: storage and secure parking.

Walnut Grove 2,191-square-foot townhouse with four bedrooms and three bathrooms

Listing address: 24-20788 87 Ave., Langley

Listing price: $998,000

Listing agent: Richard Jubao Yu at Sutton Group-West Coast Realty

This townhome in the Walnut Grove neighbourhood of the Township of Langley features four bedrooms and three bathrooms and is 2,191 square feet — basically twice the size of the Broadway townhouse. It’s in Kensington Village Estates complex of 62 townhouses built in 1997 by RWD Homes. The townhomes have south-facing backyards and balconies. The main floor of this unit includes a primary bedroom with an ensuite. Two more bedrooms are upstairs and there’s one in the basement. The living and dining room is centred around a gas fireplace. Upgrades include hardwood floors, granite staircase and galley-style kitchen with extended counters and added cabinetry. There’s even a cosy eating nook. Amenities include a playground and the complex is near shopping, restaurants and recreation.

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Like so many buyers facing a tough real estate market, Cody and Ashley Spencer had to get creative. In 2022, they pooled their resources with Cody’s brother and sister-in-law to purchase a property in Langley.

Since then, the couple’s company, Homestead Design Build, has found its niche working with families in similar situations.

“The newer generation is struggling to get into the market, so I’d say about 60 to 70 per cent of our projects right now are multi-generational living,” says Cody. “Kids are moving back into the parent’s house, parents are moving into the basement, or they’re building laneways in the back of the house. Those are fun projects to work on.”

The Spencers’ shared purchase was an aging structure on a deep lot, bordered by forest. Together, the group decided they’d update the existing house for Cody’s brother and sister-in-law, and build at the opposite end for Cody and Ashley.

One of Cody and Ashley’s earliest dream concepts for a custom home — a sprawling rancher — wouldn’t work here due to the lot’s narrow profile. So, instead, they went tall: 1,950 square feet over two storeys. “We changed our mindset, because we couldn’t have that footprint and go that close to the creek,” says Cody.

The home’s final form, with its steeply pitched roofline, takes inspiration from storybook European cottages, he adds: “It’s [modern] yet it has some features that makes it feel, not stark new, but new and cosy.” For instance, board-and-batten siding and cedar patios soften an exterior palette of charcoal on black.

The back patio, set under a dreamy canopy of Douglas fir and cedar trees, is a perfect spot for soaking up the wooded setting and watching cousins play together. A vaulted cover with exposed beams shelters the space for three-season use, while a ceiling fan with lantern-style housing adds an industrial touch, and slim skylights slip in extra natural light.

Dual-panel sliding-glass doors open wide to the home’s living room, where a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace brings the European cottage influence inside.

Furnishings are an eclectic and homey mix of vintage and modern pieces. A minimalist gallery wall displays family heirlooms and artwork, while a nearby dining area carries the balance of Old World and new, with spindle-back dining chairs and modern benches, alongside a traditional turned-wood console table and lamp.

In the kitchen, the centrepiece is a striking custom-framed hood fan, with statuesque curves and built-in shelves to store cooking oil and other frequent-use items. Rather than a traditional backsplash, the couple opted for a seamless quartz slab in a soft green tone and — bucking design convention — a piece of framed artwork hung directly over the range.

Fieldstone matching the home’s fireplace reappears here as a feature wall, complementing a farmhouse-style sink and brushed-gold faucet. “Ash did a really good job of bringing that stone over by the sink to tie the two areas together,” Cody says.

A mix of white and rift-cut white oak cabinetry with polished-chrome hardware feels light and modern. A Caesarstone-topped kitchen island adds reeded side panelling for a bit of texture, along with a built-in feeding nook on the side for the family dog, Cali.

Picking up the green theme, a powder room on the main floor brings a saturated dose to the mix, with walls and wainscotting colour-drenched in Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog.

On the second floor, bathrooms become mini-retreats. The primary is a traditional-feeling space with a free-standing tub, ceramic herringbone floor tile and two-by four-foot wall tiles surrounding the tub — and mitred into the windows with quartz sills. “We always find that using quartz as ledges, to remove as many seams as possible, is the best waterproofing system,” says Cody. The entire bathroom is one big wet area, he adds: “We like to have hot showers and then jump in a cold bath; kind of use it as our recharge space.”

The couple’s daughter gets a cheerful bedroom in hues of bright pink, and a bathroom in green and rose, with playful terrazzo hex floor tile tying the look together. One quirky yet practical detail: the bottom drawer of the vanity pops out a stool to help the smallest family member reach the sink.

And down the hall is the couple’s home office, where the pair tackle upcoming projects from side-by-side desks, taking seamless design-build collaboration to a whole other level.

Will they do anything differently if they ever do another home for themselves? Possibly a couple of things here and there, Cody says. But they designed and built this place intentionally to evolve and grow with their family, he adds — with a floor plan and materials thoughtfully chosen for timelessness and durability. And they can refresh the smaller details as they go.

Project design and construction: Homestead Design Build

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

1537 Victoria Dr., Vancouver

Type: Six-bedroom, six-bathroom triplex

Size: 2,886 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,584,000

Listed for: $1,798,000

Sold for: $1,700,000

Sold on: May 2

Days on market in this listing: 49

Listing agent: Bob Bracken at ReMax Real Estate Services

Buyers agent: Jeremy A. Sellmer PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: This Commercial Drive triplex offers an attractive income stream as well as extensive renovations throughout the house. Built in 1911 on Victoria Drive, the four-level residence comprises a choice of three-, two-, and one-bedroom units complete with laundry in each of the suites and separate entrances. According to listing agent, Bob Bracken, the current total income of the property is $91,764 per year. The Craftsman style of the exterior provides lasting appeal with a covered front porch that runs the width of the house, exposed rafters, dentils, and decorative brackets. Inside, there are wood floors, crown mouldings, upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, stainless-steel appliances, and granite countertops, while big ticket items have also been addressed such as fully-updated electrics, plumbing, roof, hot water tanks, mechanical, and sprinklers. At the back of the home is a fenced patio garden.

1277 Emery Pl., North Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,843 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,239,000

Listed for: $1,399,000

Sold for: $1,375,000

Sold on: June 3

Days on market in this listing: 37

Listing agent: Paul Rickman PREC at ReMax Masters Realty

Buyers agent: Salina Kai PREC at Rennie & Associates Realty

The big sell: North Vancouver’s Yorkwood Park townhouse complex is the venue for this extensively-updated three-bedroom home that is located just steps from the communal outdoor swimming pool, children’s playground, and the well-kept grounds. The three-level interior features a complete kitchen renovation with subway tiling, Shaker-style cabinets, and smart stainless-steel appliances including a French-door refrigerator, new flooring on the main and upper levels, an updated hot water tank, remodelled bathrooms, and new insulation in the attic. The private south-facing rear patio is fully fenced with new paving stones and raised garden beds and, at 465 square feet, has plenty of space for children, pets, and gardeners to enjoy. Built in 1970 in Lynn Valley just off Mountain Highway, the development has proximity to shopping at Lynn Valley Centre, the Karen Magnussen Community Recreation Centre, schools, and transit. The monthly maintenance fee for the townhome is $661.36.

330 — 5399 Cedarbridge Way, Richmond

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 561 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $508,000

Listed for: $529,000

Sold for: $522,000

Sold on: June 4

Days on market in this listing: 16

Listing agent: Jessica Chen PREC and Jason Ng at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Nidhi Premji at Oakwyn Realty Northwest

The big sell: Onni Group built their Riva mixed-use development near the banks of the Fraser River and the Middle Arm Waterfront Greenway — a 17-acre linear park that is home to the Richmond Olympic Oval and offers far-reaching views of the North Shore Mountains. Built in 2015, the low-rise building provides an array of amenities including an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, theatre room, study lounge, and on-site concierge services. The home itself has tranquil garden vistas, air conditioning, oak hardwood floors, premium appliances, a modern kitchen with dual-toned cabinets and bar seating at the peninsula, and balcony access from both the living room and bedroom (the latter also features a sizable walk-in closet). The unit comes with one parking stall and one storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $382.77.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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In high-end Canadian home design, outdoor kitchens are no longer a luxury — they’re a must. As more homeowners extend their living spaces beyond the four walls, expectations for outdoor kitchen performance and design have risen sharply.

Postmedia sat down with three innovative brands: Urban Bonfire , DCS Appliances and Cosentino , to hear how they’re meeting Canada’s unique outdoor demands, from -30°C winters to 30°C summers.

Hot competition

For years, designing an outdoor kitchen meant compromising on either performance or esthetics, but this is no longer the case, says Urban Bonfire’s co-founder and president Ryan Bloom.

The performance and esthetic of outdoor kitchens now matches that of indoor kitchens, says Bloom.

To meet modern, urban demand, they recently released their Urban Bonfire x Dekton collection (Dekton being a Cosentino surfacing product). The line is minimalist, luxurious and easy to use, featuring Italian-crafted Fògher grills, integrated Pitt Cooking burners, built-in refrigeration and drop-down sink faucets.

“We’ve placed a strong emphasis on the balance of textures, incorporating materials that not only endure the elements but also add a tactile dimension to the outdoor cooking experience. It’s a fresh take on outdoor kitchens that we hope expands the way users and designers think about their outdoor gathering and entertaining spaces,” says Bloom.

Smart grills

Outdoor cooking is getting smarter, with DCS introducing intuitive features aimed at making it easier for people to grill year-round. Their Series 9 Grills include in-hood lighting, colour-coded dial lights for safety (white when the grill is on, orange when it’s being used) and a smooth one-handed hood that opens 90 degrees.

The newest DCS 48″ Series 9 Grill comes packed with optional add-ons like a griddle plate, integrated charcoal smoker tray, and an 18,000 BTU rotisserie burner with a 50-pound capacity. For multitaskers, flexible cooking zones make it easy to sear a steak while slow-cooking veggies nearby.

“Consumers’ needs are rapidly changing. They no longer settle for a simple grill, but demand the versatility, convenience, and esthetic cohesion of a full outdoor kitchen, complete with dedicated cooking zones for every technique imaginable, proper refrigeration, and ample prep and storage,” says Matthew Zagarrio, DCS’s development manager for Canada.

Built to last in Canadian climates

Durability is key when cooking outside in Canada — think snow, ice, rain and intense heat.

To handle Canada’s extreme weather, Urban Bonfire uses marine-grade aluminum for its cabinetry, along with a powder coating designed to resist corrosion and bacteria. The hardware — including hinges, drawer slides and levelling legs — is stainless steel.

DCS grills are constructed from 304-grade stainless steel with welded joints to minimize rust, while Cosentino’s Dekton surfaces are engineered to endure thermal shock and repeated freeze-thaw cycles, making them suitable for a range of climates across the country.

“Whether you’re in coastal British Columbia or the snowy provinces of Eastern Canada, Dekton maintains its integrity and beauty, offering homeowners peace of mind,” says Karim Guirguis, regional director north at Cosentino.

Material innovation meets mindful design

Designers are increasingly choosing Cosentino’s surfaces not just for their looks, but for their sustainability, says Guirguis.

Dekton is the first surface of its kind to achieve carbon neutrality across its full life cycle, says Guirguis. To produce this product, 99 per cent of the water used is recycled, and the energy used is 100 per cent renewable. Many of their collections also use recycled materials, he says.

Designers are increasingly attracted to Cosentino surfaces not only for their appearance but also for sustainability, says Guirguis. Dekton is the first surface of its kind to achieve carbon neutrality over its entire life cycle, using 99 per cent recycled water and 100 per cent renewable energy in its production.

A seamless fit

The latest shift in outdoor kitchens is integration. No more mismatched appliances or clunky cabinetry. Urban Bonfire and Cosentino now co-develop products to ensure a unified look and feel.

“Every element, from materials to appliances, works together as a cohesive and enduring outdoor living solution,” says Guirguis.

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A new chapter has been unfolding for Monika Hibbs.

The Canadian home-decor and lifestyle author, influencer and retailer recently announced the rebrand of Monika Hibbs Home to Acres Market & Interiors.

We caught up with Hibbs for a chat about what’s in store.

Q: Tell us about Acres Market & Interiors.

Acres Market & Interiors marks an exciting new chapter for what was formerly Monika Hibbs Home. It still represents my brand and my eye for beautiful decor — elevated under a new name. Acres Market & Interiors encompasses Monika Hibbs Home house brand, online shop , storefront at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, and [husband] Troy’s custom homebuilding company, Acres Estate Homes.

Q: How has the brand evolved?

My journey of creating my own brand began in 2011 when I started blogging and sharing glimpses of our life such as design projects, family travels and building our own homes. That early online presence helped build a strong community. By 2019, we opened our first retail store, Monika Hibbs Home. That growth has led us to where we are today with Acres Market & Interiors — a brand that’s a true reflection of where we’re headed.

Q: What sets Acres Market & Interiors apart?

The trust we’ve built over the years. Even though this is a rebrand, the foundation of quality, care and customer connection remains. We focus on creating a unique and intentional customer experience.

Q: Who is your target customer?

We’re noticing that it’s a little bit of everyone. Our customers value quality over quantity and are drawn to pieces with meaning and craftsmanship. They might be young women furnishing their first apartments, couples designing family homes or someone looking for a unique gift. Our pieces come from artisans around the world — Peru, England, France, Italy, Guatemala, Vermont, local Canadian makers — and tell a story.

Q: Is there a customer favourite, and why do you think it resonates?

Definitely! Our in-house brass dinner bells are one of our customer’s favourites — they come in multiple sizes and finishes, including a new creamy white enamel.  Our linen tea towels are another favourite. They’re beautifully designed, with thoughtful touches like a central hanging loop.

Q: What is your price range?

We offer a wide range. You can find small items under $50, like tea towels or candles, all the way up to custom furniture pieces.

Q: Where can people find your products?

We’re online and we have a physical location at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley. It’s a fantastic destination — especially in the summer — with equestrian events, food, and shopping. Our storefront is part of Vendor Row and gives visitors a chance to experience the brand in person. You can also find us on Instagram, @acres.interiors.

Q: What can you share about new products?

We’ve recently added custom upholstered furniture from Lee Industries — a brand I’ve long admired. We’re continuously bringing in new pieces from our coveted favourites such as handmade pottery from Farmhouse Pottery in Vermont to bespoke hardware pieces from Armac Martin in England. We have new designs coming for our in-house MH wallpapers and textiles. Everything we launch stays true to our brand — timeless, high-quality, and beautifully curated.

mbroberts@postmedia.com

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The excitement of buying a new condo doesn’t stop once the contract is signed – that’s when many homebuyers start dreaming about decorating their new space and potentially gathering a few furnishings and homewares while waiting for the front-door keys.

Interior designers, who typically create neutral colour palettes in multi-family developments to avoid imposing a specific style that may not appeal to all buyers, say homebuyers who want to collect a few pieces to infuse the space with their own personality and style should be intentional about shopping for their condo.

Natalia Kwasnicki, partner at Portico Design Group , says it’s important to have a clear sense of personal style and esthetic when decorating a new space.

“This can be achieved by creating a Pinterest board or collecting inspiration images to understand what you’re drawn to. The goal is to recreate the essence of a design concept using pieces you already own or can acquire,” she says.

Charyle Ross, principal at Ross & Company Interiors suggests keeping a copy of the floorplan (with measurements) along with any brochures, colour swatches and photos that may have been taken during visits to the sales centre – these will be reminders of the selected colour palette.

“Does the colour scheme have warm or cool tones, is it light and airy or does it have darker tones that create an atmosphere of drama and intimacy? These are important aspects to consider when thinking about purchases for a new home.”

Ross says when buyers walk through a home store, they’re often subconsciously looking for pieces that “match the feeling” of their space — or the space they want to create.

“If your home has a strong palette (e.g. warm neutrals), items that clash with that mood may feel wrong, even if they’re objectively beautiful,” she says.

“The tone of the palette is important – especially for smaller purchases that bring personality into a space. These items help cement the emotional language of a home,” adds Ross.

When making a purchase she suggests asking: “Would this piece make the space feel more like the home I want?”

One of the spaces homebuyers often imagine curating before they move in is an open shelf.

“By considering shelf dimensions and tone early, [homebuyers will] avoid clutter and make confident purchases that feel intentional later. A vase here, a small, framed print there and they’re already halfway to a beautifully styled home,” says Ross.

To decorate smaller spaces – like open shelves – Kwasnicki advises against decorating with too many really small objects.

“You always want it anchored with one larger item and then using the smaller items as supporting players,” she says. “Layering is just so important in decor, it gives design depth, it gives things more life, it makes it feel more lived in to have these layers. It’s a vase on top of books with a plant – different textures and different heights and different materials.”

Ross agrees and her pro tip for styling a shelf is to follow the rule of thirds: use a single item or groups of three or five while also mixing textures and layering by placing shorter items in front of taller ones, lean books or art in frames behind objects.

“Leave some white space: Not every inch needs to be filled – let things breathe,” she says.

If homebuyers want to acquire more than a few tchotchkes in anticipation of move-in day – perhaps a rug is on the shopping list – it’s imperative to keep the floorplan top of mind, says Kwasnicki.

“Certainly, you want to make sure that the size [of the rug] is appropriate and it’s hard to do that until you’re in the space itself. But I think there’s something to be said about anchoring an entire room around a rug that you really love and letting that be the inspiration for the rest of the space, especially if you’ve bought that rug while travelling or something like that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with building an esthetic around that one special piece, but for large, chunky pieces, you certainly want to make sure you have a good sense of how that feels in the space size wise before you buy,” she says.

In condo kitchens every inch counts and form meeting function is essential. Ross notes limited storage often means certain items will live out in the open — on countertops, cooktops, or open shelves — by necessity. She says when people are shopping for kitchenware, they should be thinking not just, “Do I need this?” but also, “Will I mind seeing this every day?”

Tanya Ali, founder and creative director at Tali + Roche Designs , agrees and emphasizes that when a space is cluttered it looks smaller, messier and disorganized.

“Your nervous system has a harder time relaxing in that area. So, if you purchase dual purpose items – useful and beautiful – like a unique charcuterie board or Le Creuset cookware it helps keep the space tidy. Use the charcuterie board as a tray on the coffee table and leave a statement piece like a Le Creuset Dutch oven on top of the stove,” she says. “Use things you love that you have bought or inherited as styling elements.”

Ali says casserole dishes can work in place of traditional fruit bowls and if you’re a foodie, cookbooks easily double as decor.

For those moving from renter to homeowner making even one thoughtful splurge can completely shift the vibe of their new home from “hand-me-down and temporary” to fresh, grounded and truly their own, says Ross.

A design-forward accent chair may be just the thing to freshen up a living room, especially if the sofa from the rental is making the move, she says.

“Look for a cosy boucle or velvet fabric, wood or leather accents or something sculptural or lower profile that adds contrast,” says Ross.

Kwasnicki says when it comes to splurges for a new home, investing in a high-quality sofa, rug, or lighting can have a significant impact on transforming the overall esthetic. Incorporating vintage or well-loved pieces alongside new furnishings can also help give a space a warm, lived-in feel.

Ali notes “splurge” is a matter of perspective – one person’s splurge is an essential item for another.

Consider beautiful glassware or a decorative vase. However, if budget isn’t a constraint Ali suggests investing in artwork.

“Artwork is the no-brainer because it tends to appreciate and make a statement in the space. If the space is neutral, that’s your opportunity for a punch of colour and adding your personal style to the space,” she says.

Kwasnicki concurs.

“A huge way to add personality is with art. You could get a piece from Etsy or you could make something of your own or you could invest in an expensive piece of art. Collecting a few pieces of art before you move in will add character to a space,” she says.

For a splurge, Ross says it’s worthwhile asking: “What’s one item I didn’t allow myself to buy when I was renting?”

“Often, that’s the thing worth splurging on now — whether it’s a beautiful light fixture, a hand-knotted rug or an iconic chair. It marks the shift from temporary to intentional living,” she says, adding, “It’s not about buying more — it’s about buying one thing that tells a new story.”

Form and Function in a Condo Kitchen

In small kitchens, what stays out becomes part of the decor so it’s worth investing in a few quality pieces you’ll see every day – especially those with visual texture, soft colour, or sculptural form. A thoughtfully chosen charcuterie board, a handsome oil bottle, or a ceramic utensil crock aren’t just practical, they’re design features that are memorable says Charyle Ross, principal at Ross & Company Interiors, who compiled this guide on what to look for, why esthetics matter, and how to make practical choices that still feel curated.

Charcuterie Boards and Cutting Boards

These often live against the backsplash, stacked or upright in a tray.

Choose one with:

• Beautiful wood grain (walnut, acacia, olive wood);
• Interesting shape (handle, paddle-shaped, or round adds interest);
• Vintage details or reclaimed wood for warmth and uniqueness.

Tip: A well-chosen board can double as prep surface, cheese board, or even hot dish trivet during entertaining.

Everyday Cookware (Pots, Dutch ovens)

• If counter or cooktop real estate is limited, your Le Creuset or Staub might be on display.
• Choose cookware in neutral or tonal colours (e.g. matte black, cream, soft green) that harmonize with your space.
• Matte finishes hide smudges better than glossy ones.

Tip: A Dutch oven in a colour you love can sit on the stove as a permanent anchor piece.

Oil Dispensers and Spice Jars

• Refillable glass or ceramic oil bottles look much better than branded store bottles.
• Buy spice jars in uniform sizes and display a few daily-use ones in a tray or small riser.

Tip: A small lazy Susan in marble or wood is a chic way to corral oils, salts and jars.

Utensils and Holders

• A ceramic or stone utensil crock is more visually pleasing than a plastic one.
• Grouping wooden spoons, brass utensils or matte black tools can become a subtle design feature.

Canisters and Dry Goods

Attractive, airtight jars (glass or ceramic) can be used for:

• Coffee
• Pasta
• Baking essentials

These are often necessary countertop residents in tight kitchens—so style them as part of the space.

Mindset Shift: Design-Forward Essentials

Instead of thinking: “Where will I hide this?” think “What would I be happy to see every day?”

This mindset makes shopping more intentional –and ensures you won’t be scrambling for storage or frustrated by clutter later.

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

1806 Juniper Pl., Port Moody

Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,512 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,720,000

Listed for: $1,830,000

Sold for: $1,790,000

Sold on: May 29

Days on market in this listing: 14

Listing agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

Buyers agent: Devon Samson PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: This four-bedroom Port Moody house boasts not only a private cul-de-sac location and a lot size of almost 7,000 square feet, but an extensively updated interior too. Built in 1982, the two-storey home was fully renovated in 2018 with a hot-water-on-demand system, premium JennAir appliances, custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, a large kitchen island with built-in storage and bar seating, bay windows, two linear floating gas fireplaces with stylish surrounds, bespoke tiling, recessed lighting, and laminate flooring throughout. The upgrades continue outside with professional landscaping, an irrigation system, and ambient lighting, all of which can be enjoyed from an entertainment-sized patio and a covered deck. The property is located in the city’s Mountain Meadows neighbourhood with elementary schools, Newport Village, Eagle Ridge Hospital, transit, and shopping nearby.

4171 Campobello Pl., Richmond

Type: Five-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,431 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,508,100

Listed for: $1,699,900

Sold for: $1,660,000

Sold on: May 9

Days on market in this listing: Two

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Graeme Liu PREC at eXp Realty

The big sell: This Steveston family home enjoys a private position with no neighbours to the rear thanks to a stretch of greenbelt located directly behind it. It was built in 1980 with a two-level interior that accommodates five bedrooms in total — three on the main level alongside the primary living space, and two on the ground floor within a mortgage-helping or extended family suite. In recent years, the home has undergone a number of big ticket updates such as upgrades to the roof, furnace, hot water tank, kitchen, bathrooms, paintwork, and railings, as well as the installation of laminate floors in the living room and bedrooms, and a new fence outside. There is a balcony off the primary bedroom above a single-car carport, as well as parking for additional vehicles in the driveway. Diefenbaker Elementary School is within walking distance, as is Minato Village with its retail services.

1269 Richards St., Vancouver

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse

Size: 931 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $994,000

Listed for: $1,198,000

Sold for: $1,193,000

Sold on: May 26

Days on market in this listing: Seven

Listing agent: Danny Chow PREC and Salina Kai PREC at Rennie & Associates Realty

Buyers agent: Kim Leung at Leung Realty & Associates Inc.

The big sell: This two-storey townhome forms part of Oscar, a 211-unit development that was completed in 2002 with a mix of condominiums in the tower and townhouses on the ground level. With a location in the centre of Yaletown, there are plenty of amenities on the doorstep, but the building provides in-house facilities for residents too such as a fitness centre, media room, and social lounge. This fully redesigned unit features soaring 11-foot-high ceilings, a striking concrete and steel staircase, custom lighting, an electric fireplace, and a modern kitchen with a waterfall quartz countertop, sleek flat-panelled cabinets, a bar fridge, and banquette seating. There are two 12-foot-long patios — one on the ground level and one upstairs that leads into the communal courtyard. Both bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the upper floor, and the home comes with electric vehicle charging in its parking stall, a storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $606.38.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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Some time earlier this year, a pair of bald eagles chose the top of a cedar tree in our backyard to build a nest.

For weeks, we had no idea they were there. It wasn’t until a neighbour spotted them ferrying bits of driftwood and sea grass from the nearby seashore that we knew they had taken up residence.

We were thrilled, and felt a proprietary sense of pride that they were nesting in one of our trees. They were our eagles … or, rather, we were their humans, privileged to live under the stern gaze of avian royalty.

At this writing, they are still there, raising their brood, although given that their nest is at the height of a 10-storey building, we have no idea of what is going on up there. We don’t know how many hatchlings there were, or how many of the eaglets have survived, but we occasionally see the parents’ comings and goings, and sometimes — brightly lit behind the backdrop of a blue sky — the white blaze of a feathered head popping up into view.

It is at ground level, though, that the eagles really make their presence felt. They have prodigious appetites, and, accordingly, shit prodigiously, and every morning we find our entire back deck splattered with shotgun-like blasts of white guano. (My wife was gardening in the backyard one afternoon when she felt, she said, “this bup-bup-bup-bup” on the back of her shirt. Having grown up in Steveston, where local lore had it that to be shat on by a seagull was good luck, she considered being carpet-bombed by an eagle to be the kind of luck that brought on winning lottery tickets.)

The eagles litter our yard with the detritus from their kills, too, including picked-over seagull and fish carcasses, feathers, a duck’s neck, a cat’s leg (a grizzly sight, that one), and, to our dismay, what we first believed to be the body of a young eaglet that had fallen out of the nest but which a birder later identified as that of a gosling.

Also, they are incredibly noisy, like the kind of neighbours whose partying attracts regular visits from the cops. Of that noise, one author wrote that “for such a powerful bird, the Bald Eagle emits surprisingly weak-sounding calls — usually a series of high-pitched whistling or piping notes.”

Our eagles don’t whistle or pipe, weakly or otherwise. They bitch. They bicker. Like all married couples, they screech at each other at all hours, demanding — and I’m extrapolating from my own experiences here — to know when dinner will be ready or when their spouse can take over watching the kids so they can please go to the damn bathroom. And rather than sounding as something as melodious as “piping”, the eagles’ calling more closely resembles a car alarm that will not stop despite how much you swear at it. It can be heard from blocks away, and possesses a high-pitched piercing quality that jangles the nerves. Any annoyance seems to set them off — pestering crows dive-bombing their nest, other eagles trespassing on their territory, or, simply, hunger. They start in the pre-dawn, reliably waking us and the neighbours at 4 a.m. with their hectoring, and keep at it all day.

Yet we feel lucky to be in their presence. B.C. boasts among the highest concentration of bald eagles in the world — the count is somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 birds — and we are among the chosen few who host a nesting pair of them. But then we are lucky to live where we do, too, on a street a block from the ocean and in a neighbourhood still heavily treed with conifers big and mature enough to bear the weight of an eagle’s nest. Wild things can still find a home here.

It has, however, become less and less so. When we first moved into our home over 30 years ago, the neighbourhood was covered with an unbroken canopy of big cedars and pines. Opossums and coyotes roamed the streets at night. There were several heron rookeries. Swallows were common, and bats came out at night in numbers to feed. In the early mornings and at dusk, birdsong filled the air.

Over the years, though, many of the big trees have been cut down to make way for new homes, and the new homeowners’ priorities were more concerned with two-car garages than nesting sites for songbirds. Nature receded. The opossums disappeared and the coyotes grew shy. The herons moved on. The swallows’ and songbirds’ numbers shrank year by year, and to see a bat feeding and flitting about in the evening sky now is a rarity. The one constant? Raccoons still reliably tip over our garbage cans to feed. As annoying as that is, I take comfort in it. It’s nice to know they’re still here.

There is nothing new in this, of course, this dispiriting erosion of Nature. It’s nothing we haven’t heard before. We live with loss. We’ve grown used to it, inured to it, become expectant of it.

And yet, the eagles …

Every day I stand in the middle of the road and look up at the nest, waiting for a glimpse of them. I worry for them. Their existence seems ludicrously and needlessly precarious — their nest perching tippy-toe atop a tree 10 stories tall, and their nest open to predators, wind, heat, rain, lightning strikes … whatever an uncaring Nature can throw at them.

But there they are, improbably nesting in the middle of our suburb. And there I am, earth-bound and living under that still wild and lofty presence, while both of us wait for that day when a fledgling leaps off the edge of the nest and hope takes flight.

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A remarkable amount of plant breeding is taking place around the world, and it’s very interesting to get a sense of the types of new plants being developed.

Plant trials, conducted at many different locations, all with varying weather patterns, are the only way to determine if a new plant is viable in a particular area. The intensity and length of sunlight, humidity levels, rainfall and many other factors are all critical in determining the viability of each new plant in various situations.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Smith Gardens, a large Washington state wholesale grower. At their Marysville location, they are doing extensive trials for many different plant companies in Europe and North America. They have done an outstanding job, particularly in trialling new plant varieties for hanging baskets, containers and ground beds.

It was fascinating to see many of the new plant varieties, but it was even better to observe how they compared to some of the outstanding existing varieties, as well as their closest competitors from other breeders and plant suppliers.

It was also great to see how the plants performed in full sun, both in containers and ground beds. With so many selections, it was hard to pick the best plants, but after careful observation and evaluation, it became clear that there were some fabulous new introductions.

My No. 1 choice was a semi-trailing begonia with large flowers called Fragrant Falls. These tuberous-type begonias were sun tolerant, spilled nicely over hanging baskets and came in a beautiful colour series of soft pink and soft orange. They had a very full appearance and a nice perfume. Begonia baskets have certainly grown in popularity over the past few years, and this new series from Beekenkamp will definitely create even greater demand.

I’ve always been a fan of fibrous begonias because of their versatility in the landscape. From full sun to shade, as well as being both insect and disease tolerant, they are the go-to bedding plants for small- or large-scale plantings. Their attractive, contrasting foliage colours, from deep green to burgundy, also give them added value.

Over the past five years, there has been an increased emphasis on flower size. Recently, both the Whopper and the Mega Watt series have introduced significantly larger flowers, making them truly stunning plants. The Benary Seed Company has hit a home run with a new series called Mega Cool. Available in a wide range of colours, from pink and scarlet to rose and white, the flowers are so large that they no longer need companion plants to help them make a statement. I was blown away with the appearance of each container and its impact.

I know they are tender plants, but Spanish or stoechas lavender will flower all summer and is a wonderful pollinator plant. New from Greenfuse Botanicals is a great lavender series called Lavandula stoechas Lavish. This breeding breakthrough has developed a compound flower head that produces an amazing number of bracts that make each plant look huge and fluffy. Available in pink and purple, they are among the earliest lavenders to flower and will continue doing so all summer. They grow only 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) tall, making them ideal for both containers and garden beds.

For something quite unusual, there was a new series of butterfly bushes that were bred for hanging baskets and container growing. Both Buddleia Leah from Greenfuse and Buddleia Baby Buzz from Plant Haven grow only about 15 to 18 inches (38-45 cm) with large flower spikes that spill nicely over a basket. They come in several colours, from pink and blue to a reddish shade, purple, and white and they flower all summer long. Hardy to zone 5, they will survive nicely with a little winter protection. Just imagine a beautiful butterfly and hummingbird surround on your patio.

Scented geraniums have really fallen in popularity over the past few years, but now Westhoff may reverse that trend. They have introduced a miniature series of scented pelargoniums that look fabulous, are long flowering and fit nicely into pots. Of the charming Gemstone series, Kunzite and Garnet have small lavender and lavender-purple flowers that love full sun and perform all summer. Both, I think, will open some new plant opportunities.

We’re all looking for lobelia that can tolerate summer heat and Westhoff has introduced a series called Strata Bluebird, which was thriving and looked spectacular in the hot sun.

Over many years, Pan American has bred numerous new flowers and vegetables, and now they have introduced an annual salvia that has silver stems and foliage. Salvia Lancelot grows about 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) tall and has beautiful tiny blue flowers. It will be a terrific accent or feature plant and will make a welcome addition to any container or flower garden.

These are but a few of the hundreds of new introductions that were uniquely different and fun. There are many more new and exciting varieties to come that I will be sharing over the next few months.

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If your outdoor space is looking a little tired, livening it up is an easy fix with an array of stylish options, including fancy tiles and colourful carpets. You’re limited only by preference, imagination, and budget.

Outdoor Tiles

Not only do outdoor tiles hide boring concrete, they beautify a space with materials such as exotic wood, porcelain, or a blend of wood and recycled plastic.

Structural wood deck pavers are non-flexible, two-foot by two-ft heavy gauge hardwood tiles that are installed on adjustable pedestals, allowing for electrical, lighting or irrigation underneath. These panels can be used on any type of patio, balcony or deck surface, including concrete, and can be removed and replaced without disturbing the entire surface.

The tiles’ grid-like base is stable, so there’s no separation or drift, and the raised base allows for good drainage, says Tony Clarke, manager, B.C. Outdoor Flooring . They’re available in a variety of tones and grains, and the hardwoods used stand up to scratches, rot and bugs.

Clarke says installation can usually be completed in a day, at a cost of $45 per sq. ft, and doesn’t require glue, screws or nails. They do require maintenance, including regular sweeping and damp mopping, along with an annual sealant treatment. “We generally just mop a deck and then oil it with Penofin.” Once it’s dry, in 24 hours, it will protect the wood from the elements.

Interlocking wood deck tiles, installed at $40 to $45 are designed to interlock without grout, glue, screws or nails.

Composite deck tiles, a blend of wood and mostly recycled plastic, feature interlocking squares or rectangles, and cost $25 to $35, installed, usually in a day. They’re also fully suspended off the floor to allow moisture and debris to flow out and away. They’re durable, resist fading, stains, moisture and rot, and are low maintenance, needing only an occasional light wash. Clarke says interlocking deck tiles are mainly used on a completely flat surface, which makes them ideal for condo balconies. They come in a variety of finishes, from faux wood to solid colours, and sizes to create unique patterns.

Porcelain paver tiles can work on just about any deck, or over grass or crushed rock. They’re also virtually indestructible. “They’re three-quarter-inch thick tile made under high heat and high pressure,” says Clarke. “The water absorption is less than .1 per cent. You can soak them in a bathtub for a week, throw them in the snow and they won’t crack, because there’s no water inside to make them crack. The only way to hurt them is to drop something on them.”
In that case, since they’re also supported on pedestals, simply sweeping up the breakage and dropping in a replacement tile should do the trick.

Clarke says porcelain pavers can’t be scratched and are highly resistant to chipping, staining, and fading. “In a couple hundred years they’ll still be there.”

Depending on the space, installation can take anywhere from one to three days at a cost of $25 to $35 per sq. ft, installed. Maintenance requires only an occasional sweep or hose down.

Artificial Grass

Also called synthetic turf, artificial grass is grabbing attention thanks to B.C.’s increasingly hotter temps, annual water restrictions, and the material’s rep for low maintenance. Green year-round, it can be used to lay over balconies, encircle a pool, or cover an entire yard.

“The blades and fibres are made of polyethylene, which is woven into a polyurethane backing,” says Julian Li-Brubacher, co-owner, operations manager at Turf Team Landscaping . “It’s essentially an outdoor plastic carpet.”

Li-Brubacher says modern materials, however, look a bit more authentic. “Today there are all different shapes of the strands. Some can have a V shape or W shape to give more texture. They have different colours mixed in the same turf as well, and, most importantly, there’s an added dash layer (a thin layer of crushed rock or stone dust that gives a smooth surface and helps with drainage). Just like a layer of dead grass in a real lawn, there’s also shorter, curly fibres to make it look more realistic.”

Li-Brubacher says Turf Team also offers a “barefoot turf,” especially good for kids. “It’s a thicker curly turf, almost like a sponge, so it’s really comfortable to walk on barefooted.”

For dogs, special infills, including silica sand and envirofill, have microbial properties for a cleaner, more sanitary surface you can simply hose down. Li-Brubacher says the turf backing is punctured with little holes in every foot, which he says drains better than grass. “People with dogs really like it, especially if you have a high-energy dog doing laps around your yard. With wet grass, it will turn into a muddy racetrack. Artificial turf eliminates that.”
Installation over a 300-sq.-ft area takes a couple of days and costs $14 to $18 per sq. ft, depending on whether the job requires a full tear-out, base prep, installation, infill and seam gluing.

Maintenance involves regular blowing or vacuuming off leaves to discourage weeds, and a mild soap and water solution to wash off any oil or grease. For in-depth cleaning, the company offers “power-brooming” and sanitizing with a special pressure washer once or twice a year to rid it of dirt and debris and to re-fluff the blades. If well-maintained, Li-Brubacher says the turf can last at least 20 years.

While there has been concern about adverse health effects, a review by Vancouver Coastal Health into artificial turf used in sports fields found there has been “no peer reviewed clinical study that has concluded synthetic turf fields cause an increase in cancer or other negative human health impacts.”

Li-Brubacher acknowledges that the production of artificial grass is not entirely eco-friendly because of the large amounts of plastic used, and the current lack of suitable recycling facilities.

Rugs and carpets

Probably the quickest and easiest way to add a pop of colour and bring a bit of cosy outside is to lay down an outdoor rug or carpet. Dustin Knapp, general manager at The Wickertree Langley , says there are numerous advantages to a high-quality rug.

“If they get wet, they dry well, they drain well, they breathe well. And that’s really important for outdoor use because if they don’t do those things, they promote mould and mildew.”

He adds that, even though The Wickertree’s rugs come rolled up, they’re so well-designed they will lay flat after a few days, while less-expensive options rarely do. “That’s important because it means they’re not a tripping hazard. And they’re non-slip.”

Knapp says, if well-maintained, a good rug will wear well without fading for 10-plus years. All they require is a good sweep and the occasional wash with a mild detergent solution, hosed off and left to dry. Come winter, while many people leave them out, he recommends bringing them in to give your deck or concrete a chance to breathe. Just make sure the rug or carpet is completely dry, roll it up and store it standing upright.

He notes that, while new colours and patterns emerge every year, neutral, solid tones in charcoal, grey, chocolate brown, and navy blue sell the best because they complement just about any space, furniture or home siding.

The Wickertree’s carpets and rugs range in price from $399 for smaller styles to $599 for larger options.

“These are an investment in quality, they’re not something you have to replace in two years, so they’re not going into the landfill any time soon.”

In fact, he says smaller-sized rugs are big sellers. “They become more of an area rug. Sometimes people think they need a really big carpet or rug to cover everything on their deck and that’s not necessary. You want to see your rug and enjoy it. But if it’s tucked under your furniture, it’s kind of wasted.”

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

1715 Berkley Rd., North Vancouver

Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,514 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,941,000

Listed for: $2,150,000

Sold for: $2,050,000

Sold on: April 8

Days on market in this listing: Six

Listing agent: Jason Kim at Sutton Group — 1st West Realty

Buyers agent: Adam Chahl PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: North Vancouver’s family-oriented district of Blueridge is the location for this four-bedroom-plus-den house that also boasts a spacious 9,447-square-foot flat lot. Built in 1968, the home has a versatile layout that could accommodate multi-generational living or provide mortgage-helping opportunities thanks to a ground-level one-bedroom suite complete with separate entrance. The upper floor contains three bedrooms alongside the main living area. A number of updates are found throughout the home including the installation of radiant heat downstairs as well as in the primary bedroom, upgraded kitchen appliances, and two gas fireplaces. There is plenty of outdoor space with a wraparound deck on the upper floor, and a patio that spans the width of the home. Schools, and recreation facilities (including the Ron Andrews Community Recreation Centre) are all nearby, as are plenty of hiking trails.

PH612 — 311 East 6th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 750 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $975,000

Listed for: $999,800

Sold for: $1,000,000

Sold on: May 12

Days on market in this listing: Seven

Listing agent: Danny Chow PREC and Salina Kai PREC at Rennie & Associates Realty

Buyers agent: Adina Dragasanu PREC at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: Tipping the scales at the $1,000,000 mark is the sale of this two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse in Mount Pleasant’s Wohlsein building. Described on MLS as an “outdoor city oasis”, the home delivers with an enviable 630-square-foot private rooftop deck that offers 360-degree city and mountain views. Inside, the floor plan provides non-adjacent bedrooms, nine-foot-high ceilings, laminate floors, a well-equipped kitchen with Bertazzoni and Blomberg appliances, bar seating and quartz countertops. The Wohlsein was built in 2017 with a number of amenities for residents such as a fitness room, lounge, and workshop, and a location with craft breweries, eateries, a community centre, parks, and upcoming SkyTrain stations forming part of the Broadway Subway Project all nearby. The unit comes with one parking space (which is EV ready), a locker, bike storage, and a monthly maintenance fee of $457.39.

166 — 1290 Mitchell St., Coquitlam

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,604 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,204,000

Listed for: $1,178,800

Sold for: $1,160,000

Sold on: April 25

Days on market in this listing: 23

Listing agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

Buyers agent: Giuliano Vargas PREC at ReMax City Realty

The big sell: Townline built their Whistler-inspired townhouse community of Forester on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain in 2021 with distinctive gable, stone and wood detailing. The homes have exclusive access to the Canopy Club, a premium amenity space with an outdoor swimming pool, yoga room, gym, workspace, and lounge. This particular home has an end-unit position and sits next to protected greenbelt. It provides more than 1,600 square feet of living space divided over three levels with all three bedrooms upstairs, the reception rooms on the main floor, and a mud room and an integrated double garage on the ground floor. The bright kitchen has white Shaker-style cabinets, quartz counters, stainless-steel KitchenAid appliances, and a generous-sized island with plenty of built-in storage, while the living/dining area has contemporary-style lighting and access to a rear deck. The home’s monthly maintenance fee is $357.62, and pets and rentals are permitted.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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What happens when a new mom can’t find a bath towel worthy enough for her newborn baby’s soft skin?

For one Vancouver-based entrepreneur, the disappointment she felt with the towels and shawls after the birth of her first child led to the creation of luxury textiles brand Droplet Home Goods .

We caught up with founder and owner Aleeza Khan Bradner to find out more.  

Q: For anyone not familiar with the brand, what is Droplet Home Goods?

Droplet is about feeling good. It’s about everyday coziness. It’s about caring what you use in your home and your life, for you and your loved ones. And it’s about bringing joy to those everyday moments.

We are a Canadian, BIPOC woman owned home goods brand, known for our plush soft towels and cosy blankets. We’ve been around for over six years and have partnered with Goop, Jillian Harris and The August Diaries.

Q: How has the brand evolved since 2019?

While we try to keep the product line intentionally small and neutral, we’ve expanded as needs and creativity have allowed. We were born from motherhood and the journey that took me on, and have now evolved to give space to my love of textiles. To me, they hold history, emotion, and evoke memories. What started as wanting a clean, organic towel to wrap my son in has taken me on a journey of discovery — textiles have always brought me joy and comfort.

Q: What sets it apart?

We keep the product line small and intentional. We care deeply about where our goods come from, a clean and fair supply chain, and ensuring we give you the best product possible. I run Droplet solo while juggling the joys of motherhood and entrepreneurship and give my all to them both.

Q: What can you share about new products to come?

We have a really exciting new, limited edition product that just dropped! We’ve partnered with the amazing and hilarious Breanne Allarie on a fun, cosy and unique PINK robe — super soft, with a secret embroidered daily mantra on the inside — perfect for lounging around, and kitchen dance parties of course.

Q: Is there a customer favourite, and why does it resonate?

It’s always the original blanket. Honestly you can’t go wrong with it and it’s never been returned. It’s super soft and gets softer as you wash it, it’s big enough to share but lightweight enough to keep it to yourself and not get stuffy, and it’s available in two neutral colours to go in any home. I have the original sample in my home from seven years ago and it’s still perfect.

Q: What is the price range?

There’s a huge range — from our $20 wash cloths and $65 Turkish towels, all the way up to our $189 blankets and towel sets that start from $165.

Q: Where can people find your products?

On our website , and we’re also available in a selection of curated stores.

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In the heart of New Westminster, an innovative building has surfaced. Təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre is much more than just a swimming pool.

“It’s the largest capital building project the City of New Westminster have ever delivered,” says Paul Fast, principal at HCMA Architecture + Design, who led the design on this project.

Set between Queen’s Park, the Justice Institute, and the city’s firehall, təməsew̓txʷ occupies a central position in New West, both geographically and symbolically. It replaces two aging legacy facilities from the 1960s: the Canada Games Pool and Centennial Community Centre.

Pools age quicker than most buildings, because they’re very energy intensive, and the needs of the surrounding community have also changed over the years, says Fast.

Something for everyone

Təməsew̓txʷ reflects a shift in thinking — from elite athletic training to inclusive community wellness. The old facility had a 50-metre cold water pool, which wasn’t ideal for young kids or people who aren’t competitive swimmers, says Fast.

In contrast to this, the new facility includes a leisure pool, sauna and steam rooms, hot pools for kids and adults, and generous space for socializing.

“The city leveraged this building as a way to bring all the residents together. Something of a social activator and a connector, with the recreation programming on top of that,” says Fast.

A café space is planned, and the surrounding site now includes a rain garden and park that traces the memory of Glenbrook Ravine — a natural waterway erased during the city’s colonial development.

That ravine was backfilled and paved over, says Fast. With this redesign, they couldn’t excavate it, but preserved its alignment and turned it into a public greenway. They’ve rotated the building to face this greenway, instead of the street, he says.

A name with roots

The facility’s Indigenous name is təməsew̓txʷ, which is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word for “sea otter house”, and was gifted through collaboration with local elders and reflects both playfulness and connection to water, says Fast.

“The sea otter once thrived along the Fraser River, and this building sits right at the headwaters of the former ravine, so the name ties the place back to something much older, both ecologically and culturally,” he says.

Using design to draw people in

From the outset, HCMA was tasked with extensive community engagement, says Fast. Their biggest breakthrough came when we heard from people who weren’t using the existing facility, and that’s what shaped the project. These people included newcomers to Canada, young families, and teenagers.

Young people don’t always want structured programs, so they created more casual, social spaces, says Fast. They want to encourage people to shoot hoops with friends, or just hang out.

Built for a new climate

Təməsew̓txʷ is one of Canada’s first all-electric pool facilities, and the first to be zero-carbon. The filtration system, imported from Europe, uses drum filters rather than sand. They don’t rely on chlorine as heavily, and people have commented that it doesn’t “smell like a pool,” says Fast.

To make it possible, the city and design team worked with the Canada Green Building Council and even helped adjust BC’s Health Act to accommodate the innovation.

Architecture as common ground

Fast recalls a moment that captures what təməsew̓txʷ was always meant to be.

“We’d just won a national design award, and the city held a media event in the atrium,” he says.

“We’d just won a international design award, and the city held a media event in the atrium,” he says.

“TV cameras were rolling. The mayor was there. And this man came through the door — clearly going through something in life — and asked the mayor for a toonie, so he could pay the entrance fee and take a shower.”

The mayor gave it to him without hesitation, says Fast.

“For me, it was confirmation that buildings can break down barriers.”

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If you’re looking for something special to enhance your outdoor spaces this summer, you may want to consider a plant that is increasingly popular because of its incredible punch of colour and love of heat.

Mandevillas come in a wide range of colours with a hot, tropical look, and can be used as beautiful outdoor screens and container jewels. They are becoming the go-to plant for patios, and like most vibrant tropical flowering plants, garner immediate attention.

Mandevillas need nighttime temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees Celsius before they can go outside, meaning it’s late May or June before they can safely be placed outdoors.

They must be planted in a well-draining, professional soil mix. Once settled in, they will perform wonderfully in summer sun. I love the fact that they continue to flower into late summer and fall.

If you have a patio that is quite shady, you will have to locate them where they can get a minimum of four hours of the best possible sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. When established, feed them with a slow-release fertilizer like 14-14-14; it will continually feed them for four months, making them very low maintenance.

Mandevillas do not like to be overwatered, and a daily check is usually all that is needed. The best scenario is to give them a good drink, then let them dry out slightly before watering again.

By far, the most popular colours are the vibrant pinks and the rich reds. They stand out in a big way as their flowers keep producing great colour all summer, but the power of white should never be underestimated. White mandevillas are growing in popularity as more folks are appreciating the charm of an all-white garden.

New this year is a series of mandevillas called Rio. They are compact, non-vining plants and are a little more cold-tolerant for an earlier start. Their initial colour range is pink, deep red and white. Even though they are non-vining, they still make great plants for hanging baskets.

The Ball Horticultural Company has introduced a number of new varieties, such as Sun Parasol FiredUp Orange, a stunning orange splashed with yellow, and Sun Parasol FiredUp Coral in all shades of coral. Grande Citrine Improved is a vibrant yellow, and Tropica Unico Coral Orange Sunrise is an amazing blend of peachy tones.

When I attended the IPM horticultural trade fair in Essen, Germany last year, I was thrilled to see many new varieties. They may take some time to find their way here, but by next year, many will be showing up in local stores.

I love planting them in containers with classy black trellises, where they will make an attractive screen and grow up to two metres. They can also be grown in hanging baskets, spilling nicely over the edges. Another great look is growing them up a narrow, round pergola as a single focal point. Be sure to save a spot somewhere on your patio for these gems.

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Now that we’re all getting serious about buying Canadian and supporting local, one of the best ways to do just that is to shop at your nearby farmers market. It’s also one of the most delicious ways to get your groceries — and the most enjoyable, too.

Luckily, here in the Lower Mainland, there are plenty of farmers markets to choose from — eight of them right in Vancouver (West End, Downtown, Kitsilano, False Creek, Riley Park, Mount Pleasant, Trout Lake and Hastings Park), with another dozen or so more from Pemberton to Chilliwack.

Admittedly, visiting a farmers market takes a little planning. Most are held only once a week for a few hours in the morning or the evening, often just in the summer months (though a growing number of them are open year-round). You can’t just drop in any old time like you would at, say, your neighbourhood City Market. You might even have to get up a little earlier than usual to be sure to get the best produce. And you definitely need to remember your shopping bags.

But it’s worth it, for so many reasons.

Most farmers markets have strict rules that limit the products sold at them to local ones (or at least those grown or produced in B.C.) and about principals being the ones doing the selling. That means you’ll likely be chatting to the farmer, the cheesemaker, the baker, the brewer or a member of their family, and not a sales rep. They can tell you about what you’re buying, how it was grown and how to cook it. You’re not just shopping; you’re participating in an act of community, supporting your farmers and your local food security.

And this is a really, really good time to connect with our farmers. Last year, as you may recall, was a brutal growing year, thanks to the devastating winter event in January.

Crops of all sorts, from tree fruits to ground vegetables to wine grapes, were affected — the Creston Valley, for instance, lost its entire cherry crop, which also had a devastating effect on the bees relying on the blossoms for food. It’s been so bad that last summer the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, which comprised more than 230 farming families, closed after nearly 90 years in business because of “extremely low estimated fruit volumes, weather effects and difficult market and financial conditions.”

Even without that cold snap, farmers have been struggling with supply-chain issues, rising costs, drought, fires, floods and now the threat of tariffs and a looming trade war from across the border. If we want them to keep growing our food, we have to keep supporting them.

But that’s not even the best reason to shop at a farmers market. The best reason is simply because it’s the surest way to get the freshest, finest, most seasonal produce available, often picked just hours before you tuck it into your cooler.

While you’re at the market, pick up a wedge of cheese and a bottle of wine, a pie for dessert, a carton of duck eggs and some seedlings for your garden. Discover a local fashion designer or the handmade coffee table you didn’t know you needed. Tuck a bouquet of locally grown flowers in your bag, just because they make you happy.

There will almost certainly be some happy dogs hanging around, and babies in carts, and little kids dancing to a live band. You’ll probably run into some old friends and make some new ones. Best of all, you’ll have something wonderful to eat after you get home.

Find a market near you and other info at bcfarmersmarkettrail.com or bcfarmersmarket.org .

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Believe it or not, the fact that two of three new exhibits opening at the Museum of Vancouver this month are all about chairs is a coincidence.

In Deep-Seated Histories, a selection of everything from barber shop recliners to church pews provide a glimpse into Vancouver’s cultural, social and industrial evolution.

The other exhibit, Future Makers, looks to the future with sustainable chairs built out of repurposed mahogany.

“For the past 10 years, we wanted to showcase and zoom in on one object type in our permanent collection,” said Viviane Gosselin, director of collections and exhibitions, curator of contemporary culture.

“We are all very fond of chairs, so we thought, okay, let’s go with chairs. And then at the same time, this gift of mahogany came to us because people in the community know that we like to do material reuse. So the two converged. We’re in fully chair mode for the summer.”

The 150 chairs in Deep-Seated Histories were chosen from a collection of about 250.

“The main focus of the show was to talk about Vancouver history through the selection,” said Denise Fong, the lead curator on Deep-Seated Histories.

“Because many don’t have provenance information, we don’t really know where they came from or what their connection is to Vancouver. Part of the process was going through our existing records to see what we could find about the stories behind them, whether they’re connected to an important landmark or heritage building or local business in Vancouver, or to significant individuals or organizations.”

Local history buffs, nostalgic sentimentalists and design aficionados will find much to ooh and ah over in the exhibit, from Joe Fortes’ Morris Chair to a Fritz Hansen chair from the Woodward’s employee dining room to the custom-made bar stool from Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium.

“The chair that a lot of people have been very curious about is our night watchman chair from the Ship Inn, a pub in Greenwich,” Fong said.

“It’s dated to the 1800s. And its primary function was to provide sort of protective, comfortable seating for porters and people who would be waiting near entryways or doorways. It’s got this high, dome-shaped padded back, and it’s designed to protect people from the elements.”

Future Makers takes a far different tack. Using wood gifted to the museum by an anonymous donor, students at the KPU Wilson School of Design were charged with coming up with new, creative chair designs.

“The instructor designed an entire course around the project, asking what it means to make things when we know that we’re over-consuming? There was this whole conversation about the circular economy and material reuse.”

Twenty-seven students came up with 15 chairs. Two, Andre Beeche Lacle’s Masenity and Jodh Sidhu’s A-Chair, received SAGE awards for sustainability from the museum.

“Masenity makes reference to the country of at least some of the mahogany’s origin, Guatemala,” Gosselin said. “It’s low to the ground, even lower than the more traditional Guatemalan chairs. And that’s kind of an attempt to encourage people to be more connected to the land, to the ground.”

The other winner, the A-Chair, has a back that tapers into a sharp point.

“I think we saw 50 iterations of it as the student refined the idea. It looks flimsy, like a piece of paper that you fold and create a chair out of it. But it’s actually very solid.”

The students have agreed to auction off the chairs. Proceeds will be donated to Indigenous-led reforestation efforts in Guatemala.

Curating two exhibits focusing on myriad variations of the same idea has been eye-opening, said Gosselin.

“I think what we’ve learned is that we love the idea of focusing on one object type, whether it’s miniatures or, I don’t know, kitchen appliances, and taking everything we have and looking at the differences,” Gosselin said. “What emerges? What does it tell us about a particular object design, but also about our collecting practices?”

Deep-Seated Histories and Future Makers are at Museum of Vancouver until Jan. 2026.

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

4 — 367 East 33rd Ave., Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom half duplex

Size: 1,271 square feet

B.C. Assessment: N/A

Listed for: $1,698,000

Sold for: $1,698,000

Sold on: April 28

Days on market in this listing: 26

Listing agent: Jessica Chen PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Shannon Vrlak PREC at WESTSIDE Tom Gradecak Realty

The big sell: The newly-constructed boutique collection of homes at Ello reside in Vancouver’s Riley Park community within walking distance to myriad amenities along Main Street. Built by Vandwell Developments, there are 12 individual residences that comprise four fully-restored contemporary character homes and eight new-build duplex homes ranging from three bedrooms plus a den, to four bedrooms and a suite, all with custom finishes and efficient layouts. This particular unit has a floor plan spanning two levels (some homes feature three) with the principal reception rooms on the main floor and all three bedrooms upstairs under vaulted ceilings. Interior highlights include wide-plank white oak engineered floors, designer light fixtures, large format textured matte tiles, white oak millwork accents, Dekton backsplashes, and brushed gunmetal plumbing fixtures. Each home is backed by a 2-5-10 warranty.

158 Maplewood Rise, Lake Cowichan

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 1,914 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $563,000

Listed for: $934,900

Sold for: $930,000

Sold on: April 2

Days on market in this listing: 16

Listing agent: Sonny Mann at Oakwyn Realty Encore and Jennifer Allen PREC at ReMax Generation

Buyers agent: Trish Turnbull PREC at ReMax of Nanaimo

The big sell: This brand new three-bedroom detached house was built by Beachrock Construction near Lake Cowichan’s town centre and forms part of a new subdivision that is surrounded by nature including having direct access to the Trans Canada Trail. Offering attention to detail throughout, the two-level home has been thoughtfully designed with built-in shelving, barn doors, oversized windows, two fireplaces (one in the living room and one in the primary bedroom suite), a four-foot-high crawl space for extra storage, and versatile areas that could serve as a dining room, home office or recreation room depending on the buyers’ requirements. The private backyard features a spacious, covered patio and panoramic mountain views. Checking the energy-proficiency box is a high-efficiency heat pump, and the home adheres to Step 5 in the BC Energy Step Code meaning it has been constructed as net-zero energy ready.

17391 Westminster Hwy., Richmond

Type: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom detached

Size: 2,370 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,111,900

Listed for: $1,388,000

Sold for: $1,300,000

Sold on: April 17

Days on market in this listing: Five

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Non Member / No Agency

The big sell: One of the main highlights of this Richmond property is its lot size — more than 7,900 square feet plus a location on Westminster Highway in the eastern sector of the city with direct access to major transit routes, as well as Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club for more leisurely pursuits. Residing on the property is a four-bedroom house that was built in 1959. It features a split-level entry with stairs leading up to the main level where the sleeping quarters are found on one side of the layout and an open-plan living area on the other containing a white kitchen overlooking a conjoined living and dining room with wood floors, inlay detailing, and a gas fireplace. Completing this level is a solarium and a balcony that offer views over adjacent farmland. The lower level comprises a fourth bedroom, a recreation room, laundry, and flexible areas. Outside, the expansive yard is mainly laid to grass and there is a single carport.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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Bosa Properties’ Broadview has provided people with something to talk about since the 35-storey purpose-built rental building went up in Burnaby’s Central Park District. Broadview — which features 295 junior one-bedroom, one-bedroom and two-bedrooms — caters to renters’ needs for amenities such as fitness centres, pet-friendly policies and rooftop lounges. But that’s not all.

“Purpose-built rental isn’t just a housing model — it’s a response to how people’s lives, needs and expectations have evolved. We put a lot of energy into who the people are who choose rentals and added a dynamic package of amenities that historically were only seen in luxury ownership buildings,” says Sally Parrott, executive vice-president at Bosa Properties, adding this is the company’s seventh purpose-built rental property across Greater Vancouver.

Robin Oshiro was one of the first to move into a one-bedroom suite on the 24th floor.

“I’m really happy with my suite, although small, it is very well laid out and it comes with quality finishes, smart technology and air conditioning,” says Oshiro, adding that he is taking advantage of a rent-to-buy program Bosa offers to purchase a home in its nearby development that is anticipated to complete in 2029.

“I’m happy that I will continue to live in the Central Park District, which offers me everything I need within walking distance,” adds Oshiro.

Not only is the building walking distance to Central Park, Deer Lake Park, Burnaby Mountain and Bonsor Community Centre, it’s just steps from Metrotown’s urban shopping centre and two SkyTrain stations, and it offers an array of amenities and free handyman services.

“I was sold on Broadview for its great location and amenities. I use the co-working space and the gym almost daily,” says Oshiro.

Broadview’s four levels of amenities begin in the lobby, which features comfortable seating, artwork by local artist Graham Gillmore, a dog wash station with two basins, bike wash and repair station, and bike storage. The building also has an on-site property manager, concierge services and package storage lockers.

On the second level, residents can head up for a workout in the fitness centre complete with cardio equipment, free weights, yoga and barre studio. Level 35 is where residents can gather with friends and family in the private dining room, or get work done in the co-working space or meeting rooms. There are also social and games lounges. Finally, the rooftop social lounges are showcased by several fireside couches, dining spaces with barbecues and community garden plots.

Thoughtfully designed, homes in Broadview range from 522 to 1,163 square feet and feature vinyl wide plank flooring, fully outfitted kitchens including quartz countertops, all appliances, in-suite washer and dryer, as well as heat recovery ventilation for fresh air.

“Our design philosophy begins with people — taking the time to understand what matters most to today’s renters and designing functional spaces that deliver comfort, identity, and connection,” says Vincent Delfaud, vice-president of design and sustainability at Bosa Properties. “By maximizing livable space, integrating purposeful features, and using durable, timeless materials, we ensure every square foot counts.”

Parrott agreed with Delfaud’s sentiments, adding: “We spent a lot of time on the design to ensure our tenants have the best living experience.”

Project: Broadview

Project address: 5980 Kathleen Avenue, Burnaby

Developer: Bosa Properties

Architect: Arcadis

Interior designer: BYU Design

Project size: 295 Residences

Number of bedrooms: One and two bedrooms

Price: Rents start from one-bedrooms at $2,650; two-bedrooms from $3,450

Sales centre: 4488 Kingsway, Burnaby

Centre hours: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Phone: 604-968-8872

Website: rentbroadview.com

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