Marie-Eve Baril knows the faucet game. Her parents launched Montreal-based Baril 40 years ago, after her mother became frustrated by how difficult it was to find beautiful faucets for the home.

Her parents began importing high-end Italian faucets and the company grew from there.

Today, Baril designs its faucets in Montreal and assembles them at its manufacturing facility in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, with products now sold across North America.

Since Marie-Eve Baril and her brother, Jean-Sébastien Baril, took over the company in 2010, the brand has expanded dramatically.

“We’ve grown about five or six times bigger in terms of volume and employees. We’re all across North America,” she says.

New collections inspired by fashion and nostalgia

This growth has not pulled the company away from its original design-first philosophy. It is visible in Baril’s latest collections, which lean into colour, tactility, nostalgia and softer forms.

To mark its 40th anniversary, Baril launched Archive 40, a limited-edition reinterpretation of one of the company’s original bathroom faucets from the 1980s. The pink-and-gold-toned design embraces vintage-inspired details and soft pastel finishes, with only 40 numbered pieces produced.

“We had fun with it,” says Baril.

One of their most striking collections is Marie Kitchen, created in collaboration with Montreal fashion designer Marie Saint Pierre. This sculptural collection includes tactile spherical handles and bright tangelo-orange accents inspired by food and colour.

“The sphere itself is not perfectly round. It’s organic. So when you touch it, you feel a movement on the sphere,” says Baril.

The collection was inspired by elemental forms and sensuality, she says: “The sphere was the earth and the spout was the thing that delivered the water out of the earth.”

A family business built on beauty

Despite the company’s growth, Baril says its original philosophy remains unchanged. Her mother started the business to bring beautiful products into people’s homes, and this hasn’t changed.

That design-first thinking feels increasingly relevant as kitchens and bathrooms continue to evolve into spaces that are as emotional and expressive as they are practical. According to Baril, homeowners interact with these spaces more intimately than they may realize. “The faucet, especially in the kitchen, is the product that you will touch the most in your house every day.”

Baril, now president of the company, says she always knew she wanted to work in business and eventually join the family company. As children, she and her brother regularly accompanied their parents to trade exhibitions and were immersed in conversations about suppliers, customers and design trends.

“We were hearing about faucets and customers and suppliers all the time at the house,” she says.

The company’s direction shifted after Baril’s father died while she and her brother were still young. Their mother continued running the company alone.

Some years later, her mother asked her to join the business, Baril says her answer came immediately: “The decision was made in like 30 seconds. I said I’m coming in,” she says. Her brother joined the company too, and they’ve never looked back.

It’s very difficult to be an entrepreneur and start a business, and Baril says she and her brother are grateful their mother had built a business with a solid customer base and brand recognition. Their job has been to structure and grow it.

Bathrooms and kitchens as emotional spaces

Baril says homeowners are increasingly moving away from harsh minimalist looks and embracing softer, more timeless forms.

“We see more rounder shapes,” she says.

And while trends continue to evolve, she believes quality and longevity remain essential. For Baril, that combination of beauty, practicality and emotional connection has remained at the centre of the company for four decades.

“Bringing beautiful products into people’s homes is still the basis of it,” says Baril.

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A property called Sunset Ridge Estate better back that up with views of awesome setting suns, and this Raymond Bonter-designed home definitely lives up to the name. On sunny days, of course.

Despite being situated in South Surrey, the Georgian-style estate faces more west than you’d expect, says listing agent Karen Conyers of Conyers & Associates, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada — perfect positioning to capture the day’s final rays glowing through the property’s mature trees onto the Nicomekl River and Boundary Bay beyond.

But even on cloudy days the property shines. Passing through the iron gates, designed by the home’s current owner and crafted by a local iron worker in the shape of the Tree of Life, you’re greeted by a lovingly landscaped garden of original plants, including 40 hydrangea bushes.

Around the back of the 1.27 acreage is a pool, hot tub and plenty of decking for outdoor entertaining — and catching those stunning sunsets. There’s also a pool house for storage, water tank and furnace, as well as full bath, toilet, changing room and two separate showers.

Down 120 wooden steps, fashioned from trees cleared during construction of the home, sits a rarity here: a private dock. “These docks were put in ages ago,” says Conyers. “My best estimation is that there are about a dozen on the river and that’s it. If you don’t have one, you cannot get one. The Coast Guard occasionally goes up and down the river looking for illegal activity and people putting in a dock when you’re not allowed to.”

This one was grandfathered in, but, alas, you won’t be able to park your yacht alongside. “It’s a tidal river,” says Conyers. So low tide drops down to about 12 inches and will ground a bigger boat. But you can certainly tie up a canoe, kayak or dingy, and leave your larger vessel at nearby Crescent Beach Marina.

What’s inside

Through the front doors, you enter what’s called a Grand Hall Plan, a wide-open foyer with 20-foot ceilings. To one side, French doors lead into an office and, to the other, similar doors open onto the dining room, each room’s ceiling stretching 14 to 16 feet. Adjacent is a butler’s pantry with wine fridge, which abuts the kitchen with two islands to encourage the joy of cooking (and helpful hands). One of the islands has a gas range top with griddle and pop-up vent.

A huge, British-made AGA cast-iron stove features two covered burners that stay hot, so no time or energy is wasted preheating, as well as four ovens, including a steam oven, a warming oven and the main oven. Radiant heat cuts down on fuel and evenly distributes warmth throughout the ovens to prevent food from drying out.

The creamy colour of the kitchen’s cabinetry, by Chilliwack-based Old World Custom Cabinets, complements the stove’s hue, says Conyers.

Other features include a Sub-Zero fridge/freezer, Travertine floor tile and granite countertops, including one long, unbroken single slab.

All of the home’s triple-glazed windows are German-made Euroline that tilt and swivel to catch the outdoor breezes. In addition to a formal living room with detailed millwork around the fireplace and floor-to-ceiling bookcase, there’s a cosy family room and conservatory, built in 2007, that takes in views of the outdoor deck and gazebo, pool, hot tub, ocean, mountains and, yes, sunsets, beyond.

The main floor primary bedroom features his and hers bathrooms, including a two-person jetted tub, large walk-in steam shower and dual closets. “It’s massive,” says Conyers. “It feels like you could fit three bedrooms in there. It has a fireplace and two accesses to the backyard — one that goes out directly to the hot tub and another that goes out to the garden/pool area.”

Six skylights infuse light throughout the house, and in-floor radiant heat adds warmth. “There’s a commercial hot water tank that holds at least 120 gallons and a boiler system to manage the hot water heat through the floors,” says Conyers.

Downstairs there’s a separate space that could be used as either an in-law or nanny suite with full kitchen, laundry, large bedroom, three-piece bath, and fireplace in the main living area. It has its own access to the outside and private grotto-type garden patio.

The garage can accommodate four cars with its deep middle section. “It also has a big storage room and a wash basin that would make a great dog bath area,” says Conyers.

“The owners maintain this house meticulously,” she says. “If there’s ever an issue it’s dealt with right away. Even the carpet is original and it looks brand new. There is not a crack or a leak; the sinks in the bathrooms look like no one’s ever used them. I’ve never seen a house this age in such good condition. It looks and works as if it’s brand new (but) you couldn’t build this house today for $6.4 million, with the acreage and dock. It would cost twice that much.”

At least the sunsets are free.

In the neighbourhood

There are several schools, including preschool, elementary and secondary, within driving distance, as well as a recreation centre, restaurants, grocery stores, pubs and shops in Ocean Park, five minutes away. White Rock, with even more amenities, is a 10-minute drive away.

Crescent Beach is a short drive in one direction, and the Historic Stewart Farm, which had, at its peak over a century ago, over 440 acres of farm and fields, is even closer in the other direction. The nine-hole Nico-Wynd Golf Course, three minutes away, is a fine way to while away an afternoon.

A 15-minute drive takes you to forested trails, including the historic Semiahmoo Trail, that meander near Anderson Creek and the Nicomekl River.

Location:13375 Crescent Road, Surrey

Listed for: $6,400,000

Year built: 2000

Type: Five bedrooms, eight bathrooms

Size: 8,526 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Karen Conyers, Conyers & Associates, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada

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This is the most important gardening weekend across our country as we finally move into consistent warmer temperatures, which allow even most heat-loving plants to become established and grow successfully. From begonias to impatiens, from peppers to tomatoes, it is the beginning of a long growing season to both beautify our homes and gardens and supply our tables with fresh food well into fall.

Whether we use containers or garden beds, the most important factor in achieving success is our soil. There are so many different brands of growing blends out there today that it’s hard to determine the best ones for our specific needs.

For all our plants, both annual and vegetable, we use either Pro-Mix or Sun Gro Complete mixes. These are professional blends from Canadian companies, and they come in a wide range of sizes to suit individual needs. The largest compressed bales, at 3.8 cubic feet, are the best buy dollar-wise, because when opened and moistened, they will expand to between 7-7.5 cubic feet of planting medium. Both brands come in this traditional blend, as well as a more porous aggregate blend, which plants like portulaca and succulents require for better drainage. Pro-Mix also comes in a two cubic foot half-bale which is much easier to handle and still yields double the volume (about four cubic feet or 112 litres), when loosened.

Many vegetable garden beds are in raised beds now, so I would leave the soil in place, work it up well, add a little of one of the packaged soil blends, and some organic matter like Sea Soil or composted manure to enrich the soil. It’s been a rather wet winter and the addition of dolomite lime, at the rate of about 1.5 kg per 10 square meters of soil, will raise the pH levels so plants can more easily access all the available nutrients.

If we are to protect and preserve our soil and beneficial organisms, “no-till gardening” is the future of traditional in-ground garden plots. The idea is to work in as much organic matter as possible, to a depth of about six to eight inches (15-20cm), to keep soil more open and porous without having to rototill. Done well, the soil will have a far better growing texture, but it takes a little practice to get it right.

For colour to do well and last all summer, it’s very important to select plants that will perform best in the most appropriate spot in your particular gardening situation. Hot sun-lovers like petunias, geraniums, gazanias, zinnias, portulaca and SunPatiens, once acclimatized and planted in good soil, will perform splendidly all summer. Two important factors are thorough watering and the right amount of nutrient to ensure good vigour over the season. Adding organic matter to our soils dramatically increases moisture retention and slow-release fertilizers like Garden Pro 14-14-14 will feed all summer long for good results and minimal fuss.

I know it’s not always possible to use larger containers on decks and patios, but if you can manage a rectangular planter about two feet wide and deep and four feet long, it will be a very productive growing area. All your vining plants, like peas, beans, climbing tomatoes, and cucumbers can be grown vertically — up in the air for more sun and better air circulation. You’ll not only capitalize on space, but you’ll be also amazed at the quality and amount you will produce. Make sure the trellis is well secured before the first vegetables begin to form. The weight of a planter this size will be significant so may not be suitable for balconies, and windy days might challenge your trellis, but overall, they are a very good investment.

I think our food gardens could not only be more productive, but also, with some creativity, look far more attractive. I’ll never forget my visit, along with other garden communicators, to the New York Botanical Garden. Almost every garden bed had a pergola, trellis, or decorative archway loaded with edible food plants. Not only did it look great, but the increased production was truly significant.

The benefits are many: In our in-ground beds as well, getting our vining food plants up in the air will allow for greater production, faster ripening and fewer disease problems. The character these frames bring to our gardens is amazing and adding colour with the flowers of Scarlet Runner beans or the vibrant lime foliage of sweet potato vines adds a beautiful lift.

Today there are so many new varieties of vegetables, available in so many colours, it’s hard to make choices. The golden rule might be to stick with what you’ve been successful with in the past, and each year opt for a few new plants to trial in your own gardens.

Early Girl is still one of the best tomatoes for a tasty, early, mid-sized variety. Sun Gold, Sun Sugar, and Chocolate Sprinkles are by far the sweetest cherry tomatoes and are in a class by themselves. For the traditional larger varieties, Big Beef and Beefmaster are wonderful but if you like huge show-offs, Porterhouse is among the largest and tastiest.

For cucumbers, the Japanese burpless Tasty Green is the standard and Perseus is a delicious snack-sized (15 cm) version. Quick Snack or Mini Me are bite-sized, 10 cm, jewels.

In brassicas, the mini, bunching broccolis like Aspabroc and Artwork have now become the most asked for multi-headed varieties.

Although our younger generations of gardeners seem to love hot and super-hot peppers, sweet bell peppers remain the most popular in their wide range of colours from green, red, yellow and orange to purple and chocolate. They really colour up so many summer dishes!

Watermelon, especially the smaller Sugar Baby, early cantaloupe and honeydews will ripen nicely with our warmer summers.

There is still lots of time to seed, transplant, and grow a wide range of garden colour and food. This weekend is just the beginning of some wonderful, creative growing opportunities.

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A 10,446-square-foot luxury home in Langley is among the winning entries from B.C. announced in Quebec earlier this month at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association National Awards for Housing Excellence .

Bravada Homes Ltd. won in three categories for Westcroft Estates, including Best Detached Custom Home Over 5,000 square feet, Best Bedroom/Primary Suite and Best Custom Kitchen. The Surrey builder shares the awards with Kayley Jane Design.

The French architecture-inspired exterior features intricate stonework, graceful arches, and dramatic rooflines. Grand living spaces, dual kitchens, and amenities — including a private gym, sauna, a theatre and billiards room — underscore the home’s blend of luxury, comfort and large-scale entertaining. Outdoors, a pool, hot and cold plunge, and covered lounge create a spa-like vibe.

The primary suite was designed to feel like a private retreat. It features vaulted ceilings, a stone fireplace, a spacious walk-in closet, and access to a covered deck overlooking the backyard. “The ensuite carries the same elevated feel with a large double shower and marble throughout,” says Bravada owner Brian Vankoughnett.

He points to a combination billiards lounge and home theatre as another standout feature. The space recently won a HAVAN Award for Best New or Renovated Space.

The billiards room features a custom bar, illuminated whiskey displays, a pool table, and folding doors that open onto the covered patio, outdoor dining area, and pool.

The large chef’s kitchen has a separate spice kitchen and pantry.

“The whole home was thoughtfully curated, with a lot of design details,” Vankoughnett said.

This year, 900 entries were submitted to CHBA in 49 categories. Entries were judged by nearly 300 industry professionals. Three awards are given for best overall performance.

Besides Bravada, BC-based winners include Jedan Brothers Custom Homes & Renovations Ltd., Coquitlam, and Hasler Homes Ltd. In North Vancouver.

Jedan Brothers won for Best Kitchen Renovation — $70,000 to $100,000.

Co-owner Dan Klassen says the company’s Alexander Home Remodel kitchen reno, in a Langley townhouse, stood out for the builder’s and designer’s willingness to push beyond standard design choices. This is epitomized by a rare, moulded island countertop “ogee edge,” characterized by an S-shaped curve that transitions from a concave to convex arch.

“This one is actually a double ogee edge counter,” Klassen says. “The countertop supplier who we’ve worked with for probably 15 years had to bring it in from Alberta because nobody’s using that edge anywhere. It’s kind of a one-off — in B.C., anyway.”

The project, featured on the Jedan Brothers website with a before-and-after slider, showcases a dramatic transformation anchored by rich wood tones, an arch with recessed niches, and wainscotting.

Klassen credits much of the project’s success to the collaboration between Jedan Brothers, designer Madeline Design Group and longtime cabinet maker Art’s Custom Woodcrafting of Abbotsford.

“They’re really, really good at detail,” he said. “There are fluted end panels on the island, they’re not just flat.”

Hasler’s Best Custom or Renovated Net Zero Home win was for a newly built custom home. Described as a “modern farmhouse” on the company’s website, its features include low-carbon concrete, an advanced building envelope and air-exchange system, and rooftop solar panels.

Hasler Homes Ltd. owner Greg Hasler says demand for Net Zero homes continues to grow as more homeowners look for energy-efficient designs that will remain relevant for years to come.

“The difference between Net Zero Ready and Net Zero is really putting solar panels on your roof,” Hasler said. “You have to produce energy to be able to be Net Zero.”

Hasler said the company has officially completed two Net Zero homes and is working on three more for 2027.

Competition in the category has intensified as more builders embrace high-performance construction.

“There’s a lot of good builders out there that are doing it,” he said. “So I was super excited to have won this one.”

Other CHBA BC-based winners were Vision Pacific Contracting Ltd., Whistler, Best Whole Home Renovation — over $800,000; Solterra Development Corp., Delta, for Best Mid- to High-Rise Building (Completed); Everton Ridge Homes Ltd., Vernon, for Best Detached Production Home Over 2,800 square feet; Whistler Builder, Whistler for Best Detached Custom Home 3,001 to 4,000 square feet; Bellamy Homes, Kelowna for Best Detached Custom Home 4,001 to 5,000 square feet; and 3rd Generation Homes, West Kelowna for Best Bathroom.

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Trust Ikea to provide the perfect way to add a pop of colour into your home.

The Swedish home goods retailer just launched its PS 2026, which marks the first PS release from Ikea since 2017.

So, what exactly is ‘PS’?

The boundary-pushing design collections see the company partner with creatives to reimagine the items we put into our everyday living spaces. The first Ikea PS Collection launched in 1995 at the Milan furniture fair, with the whole goal of putting Scandinavian design at front and centre, but at an affordable price.

Each release has a theme, that the collaborating designers use as a jumping-off point for their creations.

“Central to Ikea PS is the idea that simplicity doesn’t have to be boring, but that it can reveal design in its purest and most engaging form,” explains Maria O’Brian, creative leader at Ikea of Sweden.

The theme of this year’s collection, which marks the 10th release in the PS pillar, is “playful functionality.” That translates into 43 pieces created by 11 designers.

The home goods range from convertible chairs to rugs, to lighting to textiles.

“What’s exciting about the Ikea PS 2026 collection is how it’s designed to adapt,” said EJ Middelhoven, head of Home Furnishing & Retail Design. “For many Canadians, affordability is top of mind, and the furniture they choose needs to offer versatility for changing needs without compromising on design.”

The previous PS collection themes have included:

• 1995 — Democratic Design
• 1999 — Design with added value
• 2002 — The space
• 2003 — Unlimited play
• 2006 — What if
• 2009 — Design stories without end
• 2012 — Inspired by history, designed for today
• 2014 — On the way
• 2017 — Live now!

View this post on Instagram When are the Ikea PS 2026 pieces being released?

The pieces hit Ikea stores across Canada, including in Coquitlam and Richmond, on May 14. Items also launched online, available for home delivery. The collection pieces will be available for click and collect a week after the launch, according to Ikea insiders.

What is the price range of the Ikea PS 2026 collection?

The designer-collaboration pieces range in price from $4.99 for the Moulded Paper Wall Decoration to $499 for the solid pine woven cabinet.

Which designers were included in this year’s Ikea PS 2026 release?

• Henrik Preutz
• Mikael Axelsson
• Matilda Lindstam Nilsson
• Ellen Hallström
• Lex Pott
• Lukas Bazle
• Maria Vinka
• Ola Wihlborg
• Michelle Armas
• David Wahl
• Friso Wiersma

How long will the Ikea PS 2026 pieces be available for?

For now, the launch isn’t a limited edition. But Ikea staff do expect some pieces to sell out.

What are some of the key pieces of the collection?

While there’s lots to love in this release, here are four items that are sure to sell out fast.

Ikea PS 2026 Floor uplighter, $59.99 (available in blue, dark red, yellow) Ikea PS 2026 Chair, with inflatable seat/back cushion, $229Ikea PS 2026 Cabinet, pine, $499 Ikea PS 2026 Table clock, red, $59.99Related

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

504 — 1790 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 1,225 square feet

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

Listed for: $1,250,000

Sold for: $1,200,000

Sold on: March 18

Days on market in this listing: 138

Listing agent: Holly Calderwood PREC at Royal LePage Sussex

Buyers agent: Niko Lambrinoudis PREC, Julie De Jong PREC and Aries Lambrinoudis at TRG The Residential Group Realty

The big sell: Coal Harbour’s Bayshore Gardens boasts a coveted position next to Stanley Park with the seawall on the doorstep and endless shops and restaurants nearby. This particular home has a west-facing aspect taking advantage of ocean, mountain and marina views from its corner location within the building enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows. The air-conditioned residence has more than 1,200 square feet of internal living space that can accommodate house-sized furniture. There are hardwood floors underfoot, new stainless-steel appliances, a gas cooktop and fireplace, a pantry, and insuite laundry. Two side-by-side parking stalls are for owners’ use together with an extra-large storage locker. Bayshore Gardens provides 24-hour concierge services, a gym, sauna, electric vehicle charging, and pets and rentals are permitted. This home’s monthly maintenance fee is $882.71.

2301 — 280 Ross Dr., New Westminster

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 1,234 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $891,000

Listed for: $949,000

Sold for: $920,000

Sold on: March 27

Days on market in this listing: 21

Listing agent: Michael Giesbrecht at Royal LePage Sussex

Buyers agent: Helen Chan at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

The big sell: One of the highlights of this sub-penthouse condo in New Westminster’s Carlyle tower is the vista — more than just a room with a view, there is a panoramic montage that can be enjoyed from much of the interior as well as from a wraparound terrace that spans Mount Baker and the Fraser River across to Horseshoe Bay. The home itself was extensively renovated in 2023 and offers marble-clad bathrooms with heated floors and a jetted soaker tub, a built-in fireplace and an integrated sound system, and a bespoke espresso bar to help get the day started. The primary bedroom suite has dual custom closets and an ensuite bathroom, while a versatile den complete with a Murphy bed could function as a guest bedroom or a home office. The unit comes with two parking stalls and a storage locker, as well as a monthly maintenance fee of $767.13. The home went through a number of price adjustments before finding the sweet spot of $920,000.

3177 Quebec St., Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,278 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,446,000

Listed for: $1,449,000

Sold for: $1,430,000

Sold on: Feb. 10

Days on market in this listing: 103

Listing agent: Clair Rockel PREC at Macdonald Realty

Buyers agent: Salina Kai PREC at Rennie & Associates Realty

The big sell: This three-storey modern townhome forms part of Q16, a 10-unit complex that was built in 2016 with a concrete, aluminum and glass exterior. Situated at the corner of Quebec Street and 16th Avenue, the properties enjoy close proximity to Main Street’s shops and eateries. The front door of this home is accessed via a private patio and opens to a light and airy main floor with overheight ceilings, a stylish kitchen, dining and living areas, and a convenient powder room. The primary bedroom suite occupies the next floor up complete with an ensuite bathroom, storage closet, and an east-facing balcony, while two further bedrooms are found on the top floor served by a family bathroom. The icing on the cake is a private 313-square-foot rooftop deck with city vistas and plenty of room to entertain and relax. The home comes with a parking stall in the underground garage, a monthly maintenance fee of $592.92, and a strata that permits pets and rentals with restrictions.

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

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

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Whether you want a home office to pull double duty as a bedroom, or you live in a cramped condo that craves more space, a Murphy bed has you covered. Just as the guy who invented it discovered.

In the late 1800s, William Murphy, as the story goes, wanted to entertain a pretty young opera singer. But he lived in a studio apartment with his bed right out in the open, like an invitation. Social norms of the day would have set his San Francisco neighbours’ tongues a-wagging. So he designed a way to slap a mattress on a metal frame that would fold up and, abracadabra, disappear behind a closet door, instantly transforming his one-room apartment into two rooms — parlour by day, bedroom by night.

In fact, when he got the idea in 1911 to build a company around his magically burrowing bunk, he first called it the “Disappearing Bed”. When he later obtained a patent for his invention, he changed it to the more pragmatic but pedestrian “In-A-Door Bed”. But everyone kept calling it the “Murphy Bed”, so much so that by 1989 an appeals court cancelled the trademark and ruled the term generic.

More than a hundred years later we’re still calling them Murphy beds, or wall beds, and these handy hideaways are still very much in use. But they’ve undergone quite a few changes since the heavy, unwieldy ropes and pulleys used to stash them away at the turn of the century.

Remaking the bed

Today’s wall beds are lighter, easier, fancier and flexibly designed with optional add-ons like cabinets, night tables, shelves and desks.

Darryl Adrian, co-owner of Murphy Wall-Beds of Canada in Victoria, says his company’s spring system units make it easy for just about anyone “from seven to 97. You can lift it with one finger in a second or two, even fully made with sheets, blankets and pillows.”

He says the depth of his Murphy beds, at 16 inches, do not intrude into a room. “There are some systems that can be 22 or 24 inches or more, but that defeats the purpose. We also have a single bed that folds down in a hallway. We’ve even taken two single beds and stacked them to make Murphy beds into bunk beds.”

Ilona Beed, sales manager at California Closets in Vancouver, says customers consider Murphy beds as a way to reclaim floor space while still offering a place to sleep.

She says that while sales have always been brisk, they really got a bump during Covid when many people were turning second bedrooms into home offices. “They still wanted the bed with nightstand and cabinets to store linens, but they also wanted the space to work at a desk with shelves. A Murphy bed gives them both. And people have visitors throughout the year — for the summer, Christmas, Thanksgiving — there’s not a time of the year when people aren’t thinking about creating multi-functional rooms and freeing up valuable floor space.”

Which style for which space?

Both Beed and Adrian offer a free consultation that includes designers coming to your home, taking measurements, making note of your storage needs, and listening to your goals and requirements. They’ll then create a virtual model using 3D software, so you can visualize how your bed will fit into your space.

Once you’ve chosen your style of bed, cabinetry and finishes, they’ll custom craft it and professionally install your Murphy bed.

A range of bed sizes and styles are designed to fit within specific room sizes and configurations. A vertical tilt bed stores upright along the height of the wall, requiring adequate ceiling clearance, and opens downward, extending further into the room.

A horizontal side-tilt bed stores sideways along the width of the wall and looks like a built-in console when closed. They tend to work best in limited space with low ceilings. And because they sit lower to the floor, they’re ideal for kids, seniors or those with mobility issues.

Beds can be designed with concealed nightstands or desks, pullout drawers and side tables that double as a nightstand, as well as built-in bookshelves or cabinets around the bed for linen or clothing.

Can you do it yourself?

Surrey’s Murphy Wall-Beds Hardware Inc. , which began as a supplier of Murphy bed hardware back in 1975, now offers do-it-yourself wall bed kits for order online. The company doesn’t offer consultations; customers instead rely on step-by-step instructions, detailed FAQs, blogs and videos to guide them through assembly and installation.

“We have our interactive build-a-bed tool which allows people to build their bed based on the specifications that we offer,” says Chelsea Williams, sales manager. “The pictures, prices and dimensions are all there.”

She says customers peruse their site, select their bed orientation based on their room dimensions, choose size, finish and cabinetry, then place their order. “We manufacture everything (based on that information) and ship direct to them and they install it themselves.”

Although you don’t need an engineering degree to embed the bed, she says it is time-consuming. “Most people who struggle with it are trying to do it as a Saturday afternoon project and it’s definitely more of a two-day, two-person project. If you are prepared to put in the time required, it’s not complicated.”

Murphy Wall-Beds of Canada also offers DIY kits, but Beed says California Closets does not, relying instead on professional installers. “The weight of the mattress determines the size of the pistons that are put on and whether they need adjusting. Our installers are trained in that so they bring different sized pistons to make sure they can put on the correct ones to keep the bed light.”

Designing around the Murphy

When choosing furniture to complement your Murphy bed, designers often suggest opting for ottomans, chairs, coffee tables, etc., that are built on castors to easily roll around the room, depending on whether your bed is up or down.

Dining chairs that are lightweight and can be stacked and out of the way are also a good idea. Nesting tables, ottomans with hidden storage, and fold-down desks also save space.

Decorative moulding and trim options can blend your bed seamlessly into its space using complementary colours and textures, from veneered wood to custom-coloured glass. If the wall bed has a dark wood finish, for example, you can pair it with warm neutrals or soft accent tones like sage or cream. For a lighter, white or grey wall bed, bold artwork or colourful accessories around the bed can liven up the room.

You can personalize the surrounding cabinets and shelving with paintings, photos, books and other keepsakes. You can even decorate the wall bed’s folded-up front surface with framed art, wall sconces or a mirror that reflects light and makes the room feel larger.

Adrian says he attached a barre and mirror onto a bed front for a young ballet dancer. “But you cannot mount a regular mirror on the front of a Murphy bed because mirrors are very rigid and they can crack and break. We used a plastic mirror. A Murphy bed is designed to bend and flex and a plastic mirror can bend and flex with the bed.”

For lighting, consider combining task lighting like desk lamps or reading lights with ambient lighting such as sconces or pendant fixtures to create mood. You can even install LED lights underneath shelving or around the bed frame for warmth and depth.

Regardless of your choice of wall bed, you’ll be able to turn one room into two, and gain some space. It certainly worked out for Mr. Murphy. Not only did he famously design a magically disappearing bed, he bewitched his parlour guest into saying “I do”.

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Co-founder and principal of Aeon Group Amit Thale says great design is not about chasing trends. It’s about creating spaces people want to live in for many years.

Thale and his business partner, Shama Gupta, have built Aeon Group into a Vancouver design firm working in residential, hospitality and multi-family projects. Its companies include Aeon Stone & Tile, Habitat by Aeon and Vancouver’s Poliform showroom , with work spanning homes, kitchens, wardrobes, architectural panelling and custom millwork.

Thale recently returned from Milan Design Week with a clear sense of where luxury interiors are heading next. The biggest shift? Softer spaces, warmer forms and a move away from rigid minimalism.

Rounding out the edges

Milan Design Week is often seen as the global temperature check for design. What appears there tends to ripple through architecture, interiors and furniture over the next several years.

According to Thale, one of the strongest themes this year was the rise of curves and softened geometry, especially in kitchens.

“This year’s Milan Design Week included EuroCucina, which takes place every two years and remains one of the most influential global platforms for kitchen design. One of the biggest trends across both kitchens and furniture was the strong introduction of curved forms and softened architectural lines,” he says.

The change was visible everywhere, from curved kitchen islands and rounded cabinetry to softer furniture silhouettes and more organic room layouts.

For homeowners, it signals a broader cultural shift. After years dominated by cool minimalism and hard-edged interiors, designers are embracing rooms that feel more relaxed and emotionally comforting, says Thale:

“Curves are no longer being treated as accent features. They are becoming part of the DNA of many kitchen collections and shaping how contemporary spaces feel and function.”

The appeal is easy to understand. Rounded forms naturally soften a room. They encourage movement, conversation and ease. Visually, they can make spaces feel calmer and more inviting.

Quiet confidence in luxury design

In a world increasingly driven by fast-moving trends and social media esthetics, Thale was surprised by how disciplined many brands remained this year.

There were not many radically disruptive launches or dramatic departures from what brands are already known for, says Thale. Instead, the collections felt more refined and evolutionary, with companies carefully building on their established identity rather than chasing shock value or trends.

Rather than trying to reinvent themselves every season, many of the leading European brands focused on refinement, craftsmanship and continuity.

For Thale, some of the most compelling names continue to be companies like Poliform, Poltrona Frau , Minotti and Flexform .

“I’ve always gravitated toward brands and designers that focus less on temporary trends and more on timelessness, craftsmanship, and longevity in design. What I admire most is their ability to create pieces that feel contemporary without feeling tied to a specific moment,” he says.

Artful kitchens

One of the biggest surprises for Thale came from minotticucine and a new kitchen concept designed by Claudio Silvestrin.

Traditionally known for monolithic forms and extensive use of natural stone, the company introduced a softer and more sculptural direction this year.

“What made it so compelling was the way the kitchen transcended functionality and began to feel almost like a piece of art. The purity of the forms, the softness of the curves and the architectural restraint created something emotional and deeply memorable,” says Thale.

Milan itself is becoming the main attraction

Another major talking point this year was how Milan Design Week continues to evolve beyond the traditional fairgrounds.

“A number of powerhouse brands, including Poliform and other major international players, are increasingly focusing their energy outside the fairgrounds and into Milan’s historic spaces, courtyards, palazzos and fashion districts,” says Thale.

The city itself has become part of the design experience.

“One of the standout examples was Poliform’s presentation at Palazzo Clerici, where the brand transformed a historic palace into a contemporary design experience. Seeing modern collections and new novelties presented within such an Old World architectural setting created a beautiful dialogue between heritage and contemporary living,” he says.

What’s next for Aeon?

In Vancouver, Thale is incorporating many of these ideas.

Habitat by Aeon is being transformed into a dedicated monobrand space for Poltrona Frau and Modulnova, with a stronger focus on craftsmanship, heritage and immersive living environments, he says:

“This summer, we are excited to formally introduce these new spaces to Vancouver’s design, architecture and development community and invite people to experience firsthand the lifestyle, design language and DNA that these brands represent.”

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

1621 Adanac St., Vancouver

Type: Eight-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,854 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,615,100

Listed for: $1,598,000

Sold for: $1,625,000

Sold on: March 3

Days on market in this listing: Eight

Listing agent: Dickson Yau at 1NE Collective Realty

Buyers agent: Bob Bracken at ReMax Real Estate Services

The big sell: Buyers’ agent Bob Bracken reports that five offers were received for this East Vancouver property that had been in the same family since being bought from the builder 70 years’ ago. Located close to all the amenities that line Commercial Drive and next to Woodland Park, the house provides income revenue thanks to three separate rental suites that consist of three-bedroom units on both the top and main floors, and a two-bedroom unit on the lower floor alongside a shared utility room with laundry. A number of big-ticket updates have been undertaken recently including a newer roof and windows, modernized kitchens, a heat pump with air conditioning, and upgraded electrical, gas line, and furnace. The top two floors have city views as well as private outdoor space, and there is open parking to the rear of the property.

10331 Mortfield Rd., Richmond

Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 3,307 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,703,000

Listed for: $1,699,000

Sold for: $1,525,000

Sold on: March 16

Days on market in this listing: Six

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Shuai Peng at Real Broker B.C. Ltd.

The big sell: This four-bedroom home resides in Richmond’s South Arm district in a residential neighbourhood bordered by Steveston Highway to the south and No.4 Road to the east. It was constructed in 1981 and offers four spacious bedroom upstairs alongside an office/recreation room which, at 19-by-20 feet, could easily be a fifth bedroom. The ground level comprises a tiled foyer complete with a semi-circular staircase leading to the upper floor, a bay window and focal point gas fireplace in the living room, a kitchen with eating area nestled between a formal dining room and a family room, and corridor access to the attached double garage off which is a laundry room, utility room, full bathroom and a sauna. Outside, the 7,335-square-foot lot is mainly laid to grass with mature landscaping and fencing around the perimeter, and both a covered and open patio for entertaining.

1 – 301 Klahanie Dr., Port Moody

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,751 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,266,000

Listed for: $1,349,900

Sold for: $1,349,900

Sold on: April 7

Days on market in this listing: Three

Listing agent: Terry Tea, Kevin Kam PREC and Kevin Chen PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

The big sell: This end-unit three-bedroom townhouse occupies a position within Currents, a 32-unit complex that forms part of Polygon’s master-planned Klahanie development. With Suter Brook Village, Newport Village, the West Coast Express and other amenities nearby, it more than checks the convenience box. Inside this home there are overheight ceilings, expansive windows, a kitchen with custom storage solutions, stainless-steel appliances including a gas range, stone countertops, and a large island, while the living area is resplendent with a new electric fireplace and built-in cabinetry, and the renovated primary ensuite has heated floors and bespoke storage. Outside, there are upgraded tiles, turf, and a gazebo in the backyard, while the garage offers additional flex space. A further bonus is that residents of the development enjoy exclusive access to the Canoe Club, a 15,000-square-foot facility with resort-style amenities. This home’s monthly maintenance fee is $534.96.

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

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

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The most comfortable homes to live in or visit often have a certain je ne sais quoi , that indefinable quality that gives spaces an easy-going and calm ambience. Sometimes imbuing that relaxed atmosphere into a home just requires a few tweaks and one way to find the missing pieces of the puzzle is to consider how all five senses are integrated in the interior design.

Sight is usually the first way a person interacts with a space, and it shouldn’t be overwhelming, says Natalia Kwasnicki, partner at Vancouver-based Portico Design Group .

“You want the space to wash over you and allow your eye to consume it for all its parts and then enjoy those parts together. Things like balance, proportion and alignment help to build up the narrative of the space in a gentle, smooth way. It’s like a lightbulb slowly glowing brighter versus it suddenly turning on at full volume,” she says.

Oriana Gagnon Martinez, colour specialist at Sico Paint also notes that within seconds of entering a room, the human brain processes visual stimuli to determine if a space feels safe, clean, energetic or chaotic. Colour is a way to immediately assess that space, Martinez says, adding there is a shift in neutrals from whites and greys to greiges and soft browns, as well as an increase in popularity of greens and blues.

“Greens, blues and earthy tones mimic the natural world, which has been scientifically proven to reduce cortisol levels,” says Martinez.

While people still want neutral paint colours, they want warmth and to feel grounded, she says. Earthy browns and greens bring a sense of cosiness that greys or whites simply cannot provide, says Martinez, adding neutral tones and earthy colours suggest stability and cleanliness and lowers the cognitive load, making the space feel more inviting.

Job booking platform Taskrabbit, launched in Canada in 2020, released its first trend report earlier this year, The Five Senses of Home: How Canadians Are Designing Spaces in 2026 . To compile the report Taskrabbit evaluated year-over-year growth in specific task categories and keyword search frequency within service requests. For sight it found tasks featuring neutral tones are up (+53 per cent), including greens (+35 per cent), browns (+23 per cent), and blues (+17 per cent).

While it’s difficult to separate sight and touch when talking about texture, touch is vital when it comes to items that you physically interact with.

“The feeling of a carpet underfoot, the softness of a sofa, the fluffiness of a throw pillow creates a certain cosy mood in a home. Texture creates a feeling of something that you can tuck into, like a sweater,” says Kwasnicki.

Charyle Ross, principal of Burnaby-based Ross & Company Interiors says including different textures of fabrics, woods and metals gives a space visual depth.

“Without the combination of multiple textures, spaces can become very flat and one dimensional,” she says noting if you are designing a minimalist home, it’s important to add texture such as a wool throw so that it creates contrast with the clean, simple lines of the other contemporary pieces in the room.

Kwasnicki says a desire to be close to nature and the earth has brought a lot of texture into the home.

“When we think about that in the sense of texture, what we are seeing is more matte or leather finishes in our stone and tiles so that it feels more like it does in nature and not so manufactured,” she says. “We’re seeing a lot of handmade-looking tiles as well – moving away from the manufactured and pristine look and letting the material look more varied and unique.”

Ross says if a space lacks textiles, increase the sense of touch by adding pillows, a throw and rug by applying the “three texture rule” – one soft, one natural and one structured – and use a stripe to balance out a busier pattern.

Lighting evokes many senses and in a dining room it plays a major role in how food is enjoyed, impacting the sense of taste.

Ross believes lighting shapes the mood of a meal.

“Well lit dining areas create ambiance allowing meals to be more enjoyable, visually appealing and comfortable,” she says and suggests adding a memorable chandelier or pendant to enhance the space.

Kwasnicki notes warmer light versus cooler light will make everything on the table look more appetizing, and suggests portable movable lights (LED candles, or small lamps) as added layers and texture to the tablescape.

Sound is sometimes an overlooked sense in the backdrop of a home.

“The idea of ambient sound, like ambient light, is actually a really healing feature,” says Kwasnicki. “Think about sound machines, or speakers that provide gentle music throughout the home. When we’re thinking about finishes in a home, we never want a space to be full of hard surfaces only – softening a bathroom with a beautiful mat on the floor or creating some sound ambiance at a dining table with a fixture made of textiles versus glass helps to cut through the harshness of some sounds. The more texture you have in a home, the softer the soundscape will be and, similar to sight, will be soothing and less jarring.,”

Moving to the sense of smell, Kwasnicki connects it back to discussions about texture and the cosy factor.

“When I think about smells in a home I think about laundry, baths, flowers and diffusers. The more you live in a home, the more your home will smell like you and the life you live. Cooking, going to the farmers market, washing new bedding, watering your plants, opening the windows are all ways that we infuse scent into our homes without even thinking about it,” says Kwasnicki.

Ross says natural scents can determine a mood and add a sense of cleanliness and freshness.

“Room scents should barely be noticeable and avoid too many competing scents across rooms,” she advises.

Taskrabbit’s report found tasks that include rose (+34 per cent), flowers (+33 per cent) and scented (+29 per cent) show natural aromas are increasingly popular indoors.

The sense of smell is also closely aligned with taste and leads directly to the kitchen, typically the heart of the home.

“Green in a kitchen is having a moment, and I think it’s because it feels fresh and alive,” says Kwasnicki, adding neutrals also create a great setting. “You can infuse your own blast of colour into the space – a big bowl of fruit from the farmers market, the oil bottle you bought on your trip to Italy, the dish towels you inherited from Grandma – the kitchen is often where you see a lot of someone’s personality and taste.”

Martinez says when it comes to kitchens and food related spaces, the goal is to balance appetite stimulation with cleanliness. She suggests the best colours for these spaces include a deep forest green, like SICO’s 2026 Canadian Colour of the Year, Boreal Forest (6167-83) that provides a sophisticated, farm-to-table feel. For a coffee station or breakfast nook, warm browns evoke the richness of coffee beans and toasted grains – consider colours like, Café Glacé (6191-42) and Arabica (6191-83).

Creamy off-whites and soft yellows make the kitchen feel lived-in, joyful, and appetizing while still looking clean. Light blues are a good choice for morning people, says Martinez.

“They feel fresh and energizing. These hues also reflect more light, making a small or medium kitchen feel significantly larger and more open,” she says adding Natural Spring Water (6201-31) is a great choice for a coastal esthetic.

Smell can also correlate with air quality. Newer buildings have an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)that improves indoor air quality by replacing stale air with fresh air from outside while homes without an ERV can use High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters (HEPA) in portable air purifiers to improve indoor air quality by removing airborne particles such as dust or pollen.

Indoor plants can improve air quality while also introducing another layer to create visual depth – a must for any of the interiors Ross designs.

Kwasnicki says while the addition of plants improves air quality, having something that is growing and alive will bring life to a space.

“It becomes the contrast to the hard surfaces, the boldness to the neutral tones and the texture we all want and love,” she says.

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