Organic Gardening News

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Most people want a home that reflects their personality, interests and family history but using collections, inherited furniture and travel souvenirs as decor in a way that feels intentional rather than cluttered is often the challenge.

Interior designers say the solution isn’t to hide these objects, rather it’s to edit collections, group special objects and, when appropriate, juxtapose them with modern elements.

Lori Steeves, founder and creative director of North Vancouver-based Simply Home Decorating says walking the line between curated and cluttered can be tricky.

“My biggest strategy successfully integrating personal items is to contain and group them rather than scattering them throughout the home,” says Steeves.

For smaller items she often opts to place them in shadow box frames to create a wall display, gather them on a tray, or group them in a cabinet where glass doors make them visible and also keep them dust free.

Grouping tchotchkes, curios and keepsakes also make one perceive the collection as one object instead of multiple items.

“That’s a great way to contain visual clutter,” says Steeves. “I encourage people to edit their belongings and their collections because sometimes it can be distilled down to just one really great item or a collection of three great items.”

Carla Bond-Fisher, founder and creative director of Kelowna-based Sticks + Stones Design Group , says the instinct is often to display everything at once because it all has meaning.

“That’s where spaces can start to feel heavy. If you don’t curate intentionally, the space can feel accidental rather than thoughtful,” she says, noting scale matters.

“If everything is small, the room feels busy. Balancing a large heirloom piece with negative space and a few intentional accents makes the space feel refined,” adds Bond-Fisher.

“Edit first. Choose the pieces that resonate most and give them room to breathe. Negative space is just as important as what you place in a room. It allows the eye to rest and gives meaningful pieces the attention they deserve,” she says.

Bond-Fisher also loves the impact of juxtaposition.

“A contemporary sofa paired with a vintage chair. An antique vessel styled on a very clean console. A traditional chandelier above a minimal dining table. Mixing eras thoughtfully creates depth and prevents a space from feeling overly traditional or like it came straight from a catalogue,” she says.

The foundational decor in a space is all-important, says Bond-Fisher noting if larger elements are clean and timeless, it creates a calm canvas.

“From there, layer in one or two meaningful pieces. Perhaps an antique sideboard or a significant artwork. Then support those pieces with smaller accents that don’t compete,” she says.

Steeves often encounters people who have inherited furniture and are grappling with how to present it in their space.

“Keeping a whole set of dining furniture — table, often rickety chairs and a sideboard — may not be the best way to honour a memory,” she says. “If you keep the whole set it can look like a museum or an old house from another era. Again, it’s about distilling it down to what’s most important,” she says, adding in most cases keeping the table makes most sense. Pairing a heritage table with contemporary chairs combines old with new and brings the whole space up to date .

“It’s all about keeping the one thing that’s the best of the lot to evoke that memory or remind yourself of where it came from and not be too literal about it. If grandma left me her dining set, she didn’t necessarily mean that I was going to have to take this into every home that I ever live in for the rest of my life,” says Steeves.

Bond Fisher says one of the biggest mistakes people make is treating every surface like a museum shelf.

“When every horizontal space is filled, nothing feels special. The eye needs negative space. Personal pieces deserve breathing room. They should feel intentional, not accidental. Keep what tells your story now,” she says.

Steeves says displaying personal items in a secondary space is also an option.

These may include family photos, collections and souvenirs bought on vacation.

“People can amass collections over time that often don’t form a cohesive grouping — or buy a souvenir like a ceramic pot on a European vacation. It can be difficult because these things may have a totally different esthetic or character to the rest of your home,” she says.

In these cases she encourages people to move these possessions into more personal spaces like hallways to bedrooms or gather them on a tray in a space outside the living room and dining room.

Steeves says there are so many decorative items in homes that are haphazard or unconsidered.

“We could have things that were a gift from a relative that you never resonated with but feel obligated to [display]. It’s really important to look at your space with a fresh eye now and then and think: what can I remove from here? What isn’t serving me or representing me anymore? What maybe drains my energy,” she says.

Sometimes people keep expensive decorative items although they regret the purchase.

“Because of your investment you feel like you have to hang on to it. But it’s really the opposite of what you should do. Anything that has guilt around it has no place in your home,” she says.

Steeves suggests taking a photo of a cluttered space is helpful.

“It disembodies it and you see it in a new way. Stand back, take a wide photo and look at it later with a critical eye,” she says.

She also cautions against the picture-perfect homes seen on social media sites.

“I just find there’s such a proliferation of AI generated perfect spaces that have no personality. Don’t strive to replicate these soulless, boring, impersonal spaces that you see online. What makes a space unique is incorporating your own quirks and items and things that represent you,” she says.

Over the years Steeves has incorporated many heritage items into homes such as pianos, used colours sparked by vacation memories as the colour palette for a complete design or integrated hobbies such as quilting or photography as meaningful art throughout the home.

One unusual injection of personality was inspired by a couple who had a boat and loved fishing.

“In the powder room in their home I suggested that we choose this outlandish fish wallpaper as a tongue in cheek reference to something that they really enjoy. At first, they were a little hesitant because it is a little over the top, but ultimately, they love it and they say everybody who comes into the house uses the powder room at some point and talks about the wallpaper. It’s a real conversation starter,” she says.

“Don’t be afraid to inject your personality. You should do what really works for your home, your space, your personality and family,” says Steeves.

Bond-Fisher believes we’re entering an era of slower, more thoughtful design. “People are craving homes that feel like them. Less algorithm, more authenticity.”

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

1747 Balaclava St., Vancouver

Type: Five-bedroom, four-bathroom detached

Size: 3,082 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $3,142,000

Listed for: $3,998,000

Sold for: $4,240,000

Sold on: Jan. 16

Days on market in this listing: Eight

Listing agent: Karley Rice PREC at Macdonald Realty

Buyers agent: Shannon Vrlak PREC at WESTSIDE Tom Gradecak Realty

The big sell: According to listing agent Karley Rice, four offers were received for this Kitsilano Craftsman-style house that pushed the final sale price well into the $4-million bracket. What was on offer is a location just off Point Grey Road on a landscaped lot, together with numerous updates that blended with the property’s 1912 origins. Wood floors, overheight and coffered ceilings, crown mouldings, bay windows, a wood-burning fireplace, and stained-glass windows with bespoke shutters all check the character box, while a chef’s kitchen with superior appliances, spa-like ensuite bathrooms, custom panelling, skylights, and accent walls in designer paint colours showcase modern touches. The principal living area is on the main floor with four bedrooms upstairs, and the lower level has two separate entrances, a family room, fifth bedroom, workshop area, mud room, laundry and storage.

97 — 3880 Westminster Hwy., Richmond

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,801 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,185,000

Listed for: $1,269,000

Sold for: $1,272,000

Sold on: Jan. 23

Days on market in this listing: Six

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

Buyers agent: Howard Hu PREC at eXp Realty

The big sell: Richmond’s Terra Nova subdivision is home to Mayflower, a 157-unit townhouse complex that was built in 1997 in the city’s northwest corner near No. 1 Road. The three-level homes feature integrated side-by-side double garages, and access to a range of amenities including an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, an exercise centre, a lounge/party room, and a playground. This particular home has high ceilings and an open-concept layout on the main floor, two spacious balconies, and a number of upgrades with a remodelled kitchen complete with island and a full appliance package, updated lighting, new carpets and hardwood floors. Additional big-ticket items provide peace of mind with a new roof, hot water tank, and a garage motor all installed within the past three years. A flexible lower-level recreation room could be used as a home office, gym, or fourth bedroom. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $459.02, and rentals are permitted with restrictions.

2822 Victoria Dr., Vancouver

Type: Six-bedroom, five-bathroom multiplex

Size: 3,215 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,872,000

Listed for: $1,549,000

Sold for: $1,550,000

Sold on: Jan. 27

Days on market in this listing: 11

Listing agent: Bob Bracken at ReMax Real Estate Services

Buyers agent: Justin Deng PREC at Sutton Centre Realty

The big sell: This five-suite income-generating property resides on Vancouver’s Victoria Drive just one block to John Hendry Park and the Trout Lake Community Centre as well as the amenities throughout Commercial Drive. Built in 1910, the home features licensed self-contained suites with updated kitchens, bathrooms, and electricals, and there are balconies to the front and rear. The top and ground floors have two one-bedroom units each while the main floor has a two-bedroom suite, plus there are separate laundry and utility rooms. The backyard contains a single carport and there are two open parking spaces. According to listing agent Bob Bracken, the current rental revenue is $6,050 per month but there is potential for more. The property sold just over the asking price in 11 days with five offers.

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

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

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Make sure your Easter cactus is full of beautiful blooms this spring! Do these five tasks in April for happy houseplants that will thrive for years to come.

Here in B.C., we are fortunate to have so many garden clubs and specialty plant associations to inspire our gardening communities.

In addition to contributing to the greening of our towns and cities, many raise funds for specific community projects, and some even provide scholarships and bursaries to students pursuing careers in horticulture at our local universities and colleges.

To generate income for these projects, most of the garden associations hold community plant sales, co-ordinate private garden tours and/or hold special events which are both educational and entertaining. You will often find specialty plants that are very hard to source and add something unique to your own garden, and you will certainly find other like-minded gardeners from your community to connect with.

The following is a list of just some of the many garden events planned this spring. Many are cash only, so please come prepared, and tours or shows may require advance ticket purchases. For full details on everything that is happening at your local event (some have raffles, bake sales and entertainment, too), please visit each club’s website or Facebook page. Thank you for supporting our amazing horticultural associations.

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

When: March 27 to April 17
Where: Venues throughout Vancouver
More info: vcbf.ca

Canadian Western Association Floral Art Club’s Annual Floral Art Show/Demo

When: April 18, 2-4p.m., Demo 12:30 p.m. (tickets required)
Where: St. Mark’s Church, 12953 20th Ave., Surrey
More info: cwafac.weebly.com/events

Mount Arrowsmith Rhododendron Show and Sale

When: April 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Qualicum Beach Curling Club, 644 Memorial Avenue, Qualicum Beach
More info: marsrhodos.ca

Nanaimo Gladiolus and Dahlia Society Glad Corm and Dahlia Tuber Sale

When: April 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Country Club Centre, 3200 North Island Highway, Nanaimo
More info: nanaimogladiolusanddahliasociety.ca

Biggest Little Plant Sale in the Valley

When: April 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Yarrow Community Centre, 4670 Community St., Yarrow
More info: Facebook: Yarrow Volunteer Society

Cowichan Valley Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: April 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Si’em Lelum Gym Parking Lot, 5574 River Road, Duncan
More info: cowichanvalleygardenclub.com

Dunbar Garden Club Perennial Plant Sale

When: April 25, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: 3806 37th Avenue, at Highbury Street, Vancouver
More info: jemccomb@gmail.com

Gibsons Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: April 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Gibsons Royal Canadian Legion, 747 Gibsons Way, Gibsons
More info: gibsonsgardenclub.ca

Poco Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: April 25, 9 a.m.-noon
Where: Trinity United Church, 2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam
More info: Facebook: PoCo Garden Club

Chilliwack Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 2, 9:30am to 2pm
Where: Cooke’s Presbyterian Church, 45825 Wellington Ave., Chilliwack
More info: chilliwackgardenclub.com

Darts Hill Garden Park Plant Sales

When: May 2 and May 30 11am to 3pm
Where: Darts Hill Garden Park 1633 170th Street, Surrey
More info: dartshill.ca

Dogwood Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam
More info: dogwoodgardenclub.weebly.com

Kelowna Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 2, 9 a.m.
Where: Guisachan Heritage Park, 1060 Cameron Ave., Kelowna
More info: kelownagardenclub.ca

Maple Ridge Garden Club Plant & Bake Sale

When: May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, 22270 128 Ave., Maple Ridge
More info: mrgardenclub@wix.com

Nanaimo Horticultural Society Plant Sale

When: May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Nanaimo North Town Centre, 4750 Rutherford Rd., Nanaimo
More info: nanaimohort.org

North Surrey Horticultural Society

When: May 2, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Grace Community Church, 14618 110 Avenue, Surrey
More info: Facebook: North Surrey Horticultural Society

Richmond Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 2, 9 a.m. to noon
Where: Paulik Park, 7620 Heather St., Richmond
More info: richmondgardenclub.ca

South Burnaby Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where:  7405 Royal Oak Ave., Burnaby
More info: southburnabygardenclub.ca

Burnaby Blooms

When: May 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Deer Lake Park Festival Lawn, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby
More info: burnaby.ca

North Island Rhododendron Society Sale and Show

When: May 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: K’ómoks First Nation Hall, 3310 Comox Road, Comox
More info: nirsrhodos.ca

Armstrong and District Garden Club Plant Sale

When: May 9, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: IPE Fairgrounds, 3315 Pleasant Valley Rd. (where the Saturday Market is held), Armstrong
More info: armstronggardenclub.com

Bowen Island Garden Club Plant Sale

When: May 9, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Bowen Island Legion, 1265 Scarborough Rd., Bowen Island
More info: bowenislandgardenclub.ca

Campbell River Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out!)
Where: Campbell River Community Centre, 401- 11th Ave., Campbell River
More info: campbellrivergardenclub.com

Kamloops Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Heritage House, 100 Lorne Street (In Riverside Park), Kamloops
More info: kamloopsgardenclub.com

Lynn Valley Garden Club Plant Sale

When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Clements Church Parking Lot 3400 Institute Rd., North Vancouver
More Info: lynnvalleygardenclub.org

New Westminster Horticultural Society Annual Plant Sale

When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Thomas More Collegiate, 7450 12th Ave., Burnaby
More info: newwesthortsociety.org

Pitt Meadows Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Pitt Meadows Community Church Hall, 12119 Harris Rd. (at Ford), Pitt Meadows
More info: pittmeadowsgardenclub.ca

Sooke Garden Club Plant Sale

When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Evergreen Centre, 6660 Sooke Rd., Sooke
More info: sookegardenclub.ca

South Surrey Garden Club Plant Sale

When: May 9, 9 a.m. to noon
Where: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 12953 20th Ave., Surrey
More info: southsurreygardenclub.ca

Vernon and District Garden Club Annual Sale

When: May 9, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Home Hardware Building Centre, 4601 27th St., Vernon
More info: vernongardenclub.ca

West Vancouver Garden Club Plant Sale

When: May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Gleneagles Community Center, 6262 Marine Dr., West Vancouver
More info: westvangardenclub.com

David Douglas Botanical Garden Society Spring Plant Sale

When: May 17 and May 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: UNBC Parking Lot A and DDBGS Compound, Prince George
More info: ddbotgarden.bc.ca

White Rock and District Garden Club Plant and Bake Sale

When: May 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Ocean Park Community Hall, 1577 128 St., Surrey
More info: white-rock-garden-club.ca

Gwynne Vaughan Park Annual Plant Sale and Garden Party

When: June 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 46181 Hope River Rd. (at Williams Rd.), Chilliwack
More info: gwynnevaughanpark.ca

Victoria Cactus and Succulent Society Spring Show and Sale

When: June 6 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and June 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Brentwood Bay Nursery, 1395 Benvenuto Ave., Victoria
More info: vcss.info

The Desert Plant Society of Vancouver Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale

When: June 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and June 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Floral Hall VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 37th and Oak St., Vancouver
More info: desertplantsocietyofvancouver.com

Prince Rupert Garden Club Plant Sale/Exchange

When: June 24, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Sunken Gardens, 100 Market Place, Prince Rupert
More info: princerupertgardenclub@gmail.com

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Jonathan Adler’s latest collaboration is, in a word, “bashert.”

The American designer and author points to the Yiddish term for ‘meant to be’ as the perfect descriptor for his new collaboration with the craft store Michaels .

“I started out my career as a potter. I am a craft person. That is what I do. Crafts are in my blood. I make things,” Adler explains. “And Michaels, of course, is the mecca of making.”

Speaking from sunny Palm Beach, Fla. — “don’t hate me,” Adler joked of his warm-weather destination in contrast to the current cold of Canada — Adler said it has been his longtime dream to collaborate with the crafting giant.

“If I didn’t know me, and I was just like a young me and I saw this, I would run, not walk, to my nearest Michaels,” he said. “And it would exceed expectations, because there’s just so much great stuff. From already-made decor such as pillows and games and outdoor stuff, and then also just incredible craft kits that you can do yourself.

“It kind of runs the gamut.”

The goods range from grab-and-go colourful decor to do-it-yourself projects such as paintable pots, “groovy” needlepoint kits and diamond art to games — the latter of which Adler points to as being among his favourite from the collection.

“There’s a really cool piece of art that says love, that is really nifty,” he said of the launch, which goes online and in stores March 17. “And there are some games that I kind of desperately need, and a poker set in acrylic that I like desperately, desperately need.”

While Adler’s main collection pieces can be found at specialty retailers across Canada including Holt Renfrew and Atkinson’s of Vancouver, opening up an avenue of affordability for more shoppers was also a draw to the partnership.

“I really want to be able to make my stuff accessible and to bring my esthetic to a more accessible price point,” he says. “Younger people, I hope, will freak out and be able to afford all my stuff, because it’s really cool.”

Wearing a striped T-shirt set against Adler’s surroundings of teal walls, palm fronds and more than a few colourful art pieces hanging on the wall within view, the assemblage of colour and print was perfectly in keeping with a designer whose brand has become known for a mastery of, and playfulness with, both colour and print.

“I call it modern American glamour,” he said of his design esthetic. “Modern because it’s new and fresh. And, I hope American, because my esthetic was sort of rooted in the optimism of America. And glamour, I think, is the most important and most difficult to define element of what I do, because glamour, to me, is about being memorable, being confident and having swagger.”

Colour can be intimidating to introduce into a living space. Anyone who has tried to do so can probably attest to that fact. But it doesn’t have to be the case, according to Adler.

‘I have a little bit of a philosophy about colour, which is, I usually just use white on the walls. I usually just have white walls, neutral colours, and I use colour in small doses — accent cushions, decorative accessories,” he advises. “You don’t need to overdose, but judiciously applied colour can be a fantastic antidepressant.”

Adler points to the colour blue as his favourite hue to work with.

“Blue is just sort of a miracle colour,” Adler says. “As much as I love all colours, there’s something about blue that is most extraordinary. Perhaps it’s because it’s the colour of the sky, perhaps because it’s the colour of the sea, but blue, in all its hues, works perfectly and often goes well with everything.”

On the topic of sea and sky, the conversation briefly turned to Vancouver, a city Adler says he’s visited before — and loved.

“I went probably 10 years ago, and it was a complete revelation,” Adler says of the Canadian city. “It’s so beautiful and spectacular.

“I was blown away,” he added, noting that he’ll next be visiting Montreal for a design event hosted by the Jewish Federation of Montreal.

As the conversation drifted between style and design, crafts and collaboration, Adler acknowledged that, amid a challenging global climate, it can be helpful for people to lean into crafting and other creative outlets as a form of release. The designer harbours a “missionary zeal to spread the word of the power of making things,” he says.

“There’s a lot to be concerned about in the world right now, but there always is, there always has been,” Adler said. “But there’s nothing quite like the power of just sort of tuning out and making something.

“I truly believe it’s what humans are put on earth to do, and is the best antidote to doomscrolling.”

Aharris@postmedia.com

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