AWARD-WINNING UPPER MISSION

ESTATE

FRESH APPROACH TO MODULAR HOMES

PLAN FORGEOTHERMAL

GUIDE TO HOME INSPECTORS

WINTER

2012

$5.95

Fine Homes & Luxury Properties

MAIN OFFICE DOWNTOWN BIG WHITE WESTSIDE

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Cover Photo by Colin Jewall Photography

Upper Mission MasterpieceAmbleside Residence A Festive FaceliftBird’s Eye INvueThe Competition Stacks Up

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At Home & Away | A Weekend At Silver Star Mountain ResortKitchen Essentials | Bruno Terroso of Vanilla Pod RestaurantLI

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Online | Silver Tommie Finalists 2012Kitchen | Get The LookArtist Profile | Stu & Yvonne GoldbergBuilder Profile | MAB ConstructionPlanning | GeothermalAccessorize | Glam Great RoomsD

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NewsReal Estate ReviewDesignWealthLegalHome ImprovementIndustryGreen Housing

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Issue 26, Winter 2012

ISSN 1913-0759OkanaganHOME.cominfo@OkanaganHOME.com

Publishers:Justin O’Connor, Chris� Hughes

Chief Editor:Chris� Hughes

Creative Design:Okanagan HOME Team

Advertising Executive:Justin O’Connor

Contributors:Denis Apchin, Shell Busey, Topher Edwards, Ross Freake, Laura Goldstein, Marion Hensel-wood, Chris� Hughes, Richard Montgomery, Darcy Nybo, Justin O’Connor, Cli� Shillington, Jennifer Smith, Bruno Terroso, Keith Veerman, Rob Voros, David Wylie

Okanagan HOME MagazineBox 121, 138-1876 Cooper RoadKelowna, BC V1Y 9N6250.826.9961OkanaganHOME.cominfo@OkanaganHOME.comPresident: Justin O’Connor

Okanagan HOME Magazine makes every e�ort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes; however, it cannot be held respon-sible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions to story, ad or photo content. ¢e contents of this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including dis-tribution by any electronic method, including email, website or other distribution without the written consent of the publisher.

Upon publication, Okanagan HOME Magazine acquires Canadian Serial Rights and copyright to all content included in this issue.

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FROM THE PUBLISHERS

Justin & Christy

Okanagan HOME has taken a cue from the aesthetic works of art within its pages. ¢e magazine comes alive with a fresh new look going into the New Year; complete with a modernized new logo. We hope you will embrace and enjoy it, as it places a heavier focus on the reason we are all here – it’s the Okanagan.

Speaking of which, as we write, it is the middle of December here in Kelowna. It is a beautiful day, the sun is shining and people are enjoying the outdoor skating rink on Water Street downtown. ¢e temperature is warm enough that we have a tough time deciding on whether or not to wear a jacket. You’ve got to love winter in the Okanagan!

¢is Winter 2012 issue marks our sixth as the new owners of Okanagan HOME. It was a daunting decision to sell our home in Kamloops and leave a comfortable six-year career, jumping into a new industry. As with any new business, it has taken determination, good intention, and a great deal of work to create something that we hope readers will see value in and enjoy for a long time to come. A¦er only a year and a half of overcoming obstacles, we can whole-heartedly say that the Okanagan is truly amazing and we would encourage anyone to live here.

¢roughout our journey as publishers, we have met countless individuals in various facets of the home industry, who are truly gi¦ed in what they do. It is very inspiring and a constant motivator for us in our own trade.

¢is issue we highlight some of the brilliant work that goes into making homes that are as unique as the Okanagan itself. We have had the pleasure of working with some amazing people to create yet another issue full of beautiful homes throughout the Okanagan Valley.

Our cover story is a spectacular visual representation of what transpires when Frame Custom Homes and its associate partners work together to turn a concept into an award-winning reali�.

¢e Ambleside Residence feature is a shining example of ingenui� and problem solving at its best. Chriscan Construction and its team demonstrate how they overcame the challenges to build an amazing home on a lot that is only 25 feet wide.

Dive inside to see the other treasures we have discovered for this issue.

We wish all of you the very best in 2013 and look forward to what this year will bring for Okanagan HOME.

Sincerely,

Photo by Legend Photography Kelowna

OkanaganHOME.com12

New Design Firm Opens in Kettle Valley inArtifex Design Ltd. is a new drafting and design company that has made 202-5309 Main St. in Kettle Valley their home. The business is young in more ways than one. Partners Hamid Khajavi (27), sister, Saba Kjhajavi (25) and Paulo Kegles (30), have three degrees and six diplomas in engineering, business and drafting between them. inArtifex provides full services from obtaining permits, to interior design, to complete 3D renderings of your plan.

“We are very involved with our clients,” said Khajavi. “We bring them into the office, do changes on the computer while they are here, and show them what we are doing. They are very much a part of the entire process; it is a very hands-on process, as much or as little as they want to be.”

The office is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., but as Khajavi said, “We’ll meet with our clients pretty much anytime, it just takes a phone call.” Their number is 778-477-5599, or find them on the web at inArtifex.com.

Development Could Double The Population Of Peachland “Our 20 year development plan has the potential to double the population of Peachland,” said Julia Debolt, Realtor for the Ponderosa Development. The development recently finished and opened their duplex townhome showhome, and is well underway with phase 1. The new owners are expected to move in in May 2013 with the entire phase to be completed by early Winter 2013.

“We have duplexes, fourplexes and sixplexes”, said Debolt, “and in spring 2013 will be releasing single family homes for sale. We also have golf cottages of about 400 to 500 square feet that will be used as time-share recreational properties. They can be rented out by the golf course.”

In total, there are 69 townhome units and 130 single-family units planned for this stage of the development. The master planned community has been zoned for 2300 homes. PonderosaLiving.ca

Most Energy Efficient Wood Stoves in the World Produced in the Okanagan Blaze King Industries is now listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the most efficient wood stoves in the world. These clean burning stoves, burn at a very high heat, minimizing pollution and can go up to 40 hours without refueling.

“We [Blaze King] manufacture five of the top eight most efficient wood stoves in the world,” said VP of Business Development for Blaze King, Alan Murphy. “Blaze King uses a unique combination of a built-in thermostat with a catalytic combustor to achieve these high efficiencies. There are many benefits to this for everyone. This is great news for municipalities that are trying to create a cleaner environment,” said Murphy.

NEWS

OkanaganHOME.com 13

www.distefanoarchitecture.com 250-868-9278

Blaze King’s factory is located in Penticton and is a Canadian success story. It is impressive when a small Penticton company takes on the world and wins first place. For more info check out BlazeKing.com.

Happy Trails to You On November 21, 2012, Mayor Walter Gray and Melcor’s Andrew Melton got together for the sod turning ceremony for the new Black Mountain Walking Trails.

The trails are located directly across Black Mountain Drive from the existing stairs. The sloped mountain will soon have a complete three-way trail system to a lookout area at the top. Melcor Developments and the City of Kelowna are working in partnership to create an impressive natural trail network on open space lands that will be preserved from development. The trail network will traverse hillsides and natural plateaus that showcase the spectacular Okanagan dryland vegetation, rock formations, and vistas.

First-Time New Home Buyers’ Bonus for BC Residents This new initiative was launched by the BC Government to encourage first-time homebuyers to purchase new construction. The bonus is a non-taxable, one-time payment worth up to $10,000. BC residents who are first-time homebuyers and who purchase an eligible new home before April 1, 2013 may be eligible.

You must have never owned a primary residence anywhere in the world; and for couples and multiple buyers of a home, that means all of them. Claimants must file a BC resident personal income tax return and individuals or families who move to BC after December 31, 2012 will not be eligible.

In addition, new buyers may also be eligible for the Property Transfer Tax First Time Home Buyers’ Program. For more information, go online to gov.bc.ca and search ‘first time new homebuyer bonus’.

Architecturally Distinct Solutions Wins Kelowna Mayor’s Award Mayor Walter Gray presented the city of Kelowna Mayor’s Environmental Achievement Award for Most Sustainable Development to Grace Pontes and the firm of Kelowna’s Architecturally Distinct Solutions (ADS), this October.

A unique LEED accredited architectural and licensed building company, ADS has constructed the first LEED Canada for Homes project in Kelowna. The home scored an EnerGuide rating of 88 (approaching passive performance) and includes a long list of innovative detailing, from the use of an Armour Cool roofing system to grey water recycling and domestic hot water. For more info on this amazing home see our full story on the web at OkanaganHOME.com or visit Architecturally Distinct Solutions, at DistinctSolutions.ca.

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REAL ESTATE REVIEWFORECAST FOR 2013 | CLIFF SHILLINGTON

Cliff Shillington is the Owner and Managing Broker of RE/MAX Kelowna. He has been active in the real estate industry in various capacities since 1978 and is currently serving as a Director for the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board.

¢e Okanagan real estate market, in particular Kelowna, has remained quite stable in 2012 with sales outpacing most of last year. ¢e market still remains in buyer’s territory but the number of listings is de-clining, down almost 4 percent from last year, which followed a 2 percent decline in 2011. Most buyers are either first-time buyers or move-up buyers stimulating activi� across all price points.

Sales of single-family homes proved steady, with an average price of $470,000 - virtually on par with last year. ¢e condo market has shown signs of rebounding with sales up about 11 percent, however prices are down somewhat from last year. Newer condos can now be had for under $200,000, while a single-family starter home can be found in the mid $300,000 range. ¢e luxury market with homes over $1,000,000 has been quite active with sales outpacing last year. We may see upwards of 100 homes sell for over $1,000,000 this year. ¢e last quarter of 2012 has moderated somewhat from earlier in the year (like most markets across Canada) likely due to tighter CMHC mortgage regulations. However, we do expect the over-all market to end the year 3 percent ahead of 2011 levels, forecasting 3,430 properties to change hands. ¢e average price will settle in at $400,000, just 1 percent below last year’s figure.

So what is in store for 2013? We expect a healthy housing demand to characterize Kelowna’s real estate mar-ket in 2013. Improving economic fundamentals next year will support the market. Positive growth is forecast both regionally and provincially particularly in the forestry, mining and tourism sectors, which will help em-ployment. Population growth is also predicted, which will be absorbed primarily in the Lower Mainland, but the Okanagan Valley will see a spillover benefit. ¢e elimination of the HST in April will likely bode well for housing across the board, particularly new construction, as the consumer understanding of its application has been mixed. ¢e strong outlook for Alberta is also expected to buoy demand in Kelowna, as Albertans comprise approximately 20 percent of the ci�’s buyers.

Growth will be slow but steady for Kelowna’s resale housing market next year. Consumer confidence is expected to increase, which should bring some buyers back into the market, particularly those who held o� in 2012 in light of the new mortgage rules. All indications are that mortgage rates are going to continue at record lows for another year, providing opportunities to enter or move up in the market. Unit sales will likely increase another 3 percent to 3,530 and the average price will hold at $400,000. ¢e May 2013 election may be pivotal, as a major swing in leadership could a�ect the business and development climate in the ci�.

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DESIGNFORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION | DENIS APCHIN

Denis Apchin is an award winning, Okanagan-based designer of spectacular, luxury homes.

You’ve likely heard the phrase “form follows function,” but have you really thought about what it means or where it came from?

¢e phrase “form follows function” was coined by American architect Louis Sullivan. In his 1896 article, “¢e Tall O°ce Building Aesthetically Considered” Sullivan wrote: “It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things superhuman, of all true manifestations of the head, of the heart, of the soul, that the life is recognizable in its expression, that form ever follows function. ¢is is the law.”

At the time, technology, tastes and economics were rapidly changing. ¢e forms of late-19th century build-ings were still being worked out, based on innovation going all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It was clear to Sullivan that a new form for buildings was needed, and he thought that form ought to come from the function of a building, not historical precedent. ¢is new form became the modern structural steel skyscraper.

Frank Lloyd Wright, who was then Sullivan’s assistant, adopted the phrase “form follows function” and further pro-moted it. ¢e Guggenheim Museum is a good example of Wright’s application of the principle. Its spiral shape was intended to allow visitors to easily view the artwork within. At the heart of every piece of practical design, whether it is a website, o°ce building, home, piece of furniture, book cover, tool, or anything else, there is a function; a task the item is expected to perform. Most functions can be achieved in a varie� of ways, but there are some basic ele-ments a designer needs to take into account to create a product that best fulfills its intended function.

¢ese are the elements of functional design, the process of responding to the needs or desires of the people who will use an item in a way that allows their needs or desires to be met. Perhaps the single most important consideration in the design process (and the one most o¦en forgotten) is the intended audience for the prod-uct. What works perfectly well for one user might be completely dysfunctional for another.

Functional design is necessarily a  relationship between users with problems to solve and designers with solutions to o�er.

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WEALTHTALKING TO KIDS (OR GRANDKIDS) ABOUT MONEY | MARION HENSELWOOD

Marion Henselwood is a branch manager at Valley First’s Guisachan branch in Kelowna.

With cash, debt and personal finances dominating so many conversations today, it may be logical to assume financial education is something parents are passing on to their children. However, a new survey shows only one-third of Canadian kids aged between 10 and 17 regularly discuss money and finances with their parents.

¢at means now is a terrific opportuni� for parents (or grandparents) to start teaching their kids about cash. Most parents manage to talk to their kids about the birds and the bees, but for some reason we’re more reluctant to discuss dollars and cents. Like anything, a positive financial future is based on knowledge and creating good habits in our formative years.

Given the lingering economic uncertain� and the record debt levels Canadians are currently carrying, now, more than ever before, parents should be providing sound financial guidance.

“Good financial advice is like gold,” says Marion Henselwood, of Valley First. “When talking financial literacy, I turn to the old saying ‘watch the pennies and the dollars will look a¦er themselves.’ By understanding your smallest earnings and expenses you can work up to the more complex financial issues you will face in your life.” Henselwood believes there are a number of reasons parents may avoid talking about finances and financial lit-eracy with their children. Among them is the perception that money is a taboo topic or that parents simply don’t have the knowledge to pass on.

“We learn at an early age that talking about money is somewhat socially unacceptable,” says Henselwood. “I think some of that mindset is present in most households. Beyond this, the reali� is, many adults don’t have the necessary financial knowledge to pass on to their children. Survey results also show kids aren’t averse to further-ing their financial knowledge; more than 30 percent would like to talk more openly about their family’s finances.”

“By talking openly about finances, parents can eliminate a lot of the mystery associated with money,” says Henselwood. “It’s good for kids to know money doesn’t grow on trees, and once parents have started that discus-sion, it becomes easier for them to provide education on healthy financial habits.”

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LEGALMIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS | RICHARD MONTGOMERY

CUSTOM HOMES – MULTI FAMILY – COMMERCIAL

WILDEN

Manteo Resort

PREDATOR RIDGE

Somerville Corner SONOMA PINES

Southbay Landing KETTLE VALLEY

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SHEERWATER – MANHATTAN – UPLANDS – LAKESHORE

We only build enviablebrilliant& wow

RYKON CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT LTD KELOWNA’S CHOSEN BUILDER

250.712.9664 rykon.ca

Rykon.OKHome.Fall2012.indd 1 2012-09-10 10:27 AM

Richard Montgomery is a partner at Montgomery Miles Law Firm. His business clients are varied and include proprietorships, partnerships, companies, investors, developers and financial institutions. His real estate clients include lending and mortgage work to conveyancing, leasing and development transactions.

It is becoming more common to see developments that include a combination of both commercial and residential uses. While these mixed-use developments can have some issues that need to be resolved from time to time, if they are properly set up, the issues are usually minimal and resolvable. ¢e benefits of use mixing can turn out to be a significant ameni� for all parties.

However, one of the pairings that is starting to occur is that of long-term (i.e. owner-occupied) residential with short-term (i.e. vacation rental) residential. ¢is �pe of mixing can o¦en be problematic for the owner-occupier, who is trying to maintain their normal sleep and work schedules, while a number of their neighbours are staying up late and enjoying their vacation. ¢is is usually not a good combination.

If you are looking at buying a residential strata unit as your regular home, you would be wise to check the zoning bylaws at the municipali� to see if short-term rentals are permitted. You should also check the development’s strata bylaws to see if these allow for short-term rentals. If this is allowed, then you should give careful consideration to the compatibili� of your intended use and that of the vacation rental units on the proper�.

OkanaganHOME.com 19

Frame Custom Homes did such a good job building its latest Tommie-nominated home that it might redefine what it means to entertain.

“¢e people we built the house for had this vision to create this space for friends and family,” says Bill Frame of Frame Custom Homes. “¢e main objec-tive was to make sure it all worked as far as the en-tertainment went. It’s an entertainer’s dream.”

But guests will probably be so enthralled by the view - both inside and out - that they might not want to leave.

¢e 7,000 square foot four-bedroom, five-bathroom walk-out bungalow was positioned to maximize views of the ci�, lake and mountains. But the views inside are almost as impressive as the scenery on the outside of the huge windows.

¢e master bedroom certainly has great internal and external views. It also has a double-sided fire-place, separate sitting area with a view, a magnifi-cent ensuite, with a laundry room, and a big walk-in closet.

Also on the main floor are the great room, kitchen, and pantry that live up to even a high-octane par-tier’s idea of entertainment central.

“I like the way the kitchen, and wet bar area are kind of attached, but separated,” Frame says. “¢e kitchen is to the le¦, wet bar is central, and behind is an enclosed wine room.

WRITTEN BY ROSS FREAKEPHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN JEWALL PHOTOGRAPHY

U P P E RM I S S I O NM A S T E R P I E C E

With LED lights, which can change colour, the pool takes care of itself and you never have to vacuum; the circulating-jet system forces dirt to the filter. Pool cover moves at the touch of a switch.

P O O L .

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

“¢e round bulkhead above accentu-ates the whole curve of the wet bar; it’s a key part of the success of the house.”

Downstairs are bedrooms, bathrooms, gym, wet bar, pool table room, media room, and another laundry room.

¢e owners can check on their auto-mated house whether they’re shopping in Kelowna or sun-bathing in Hawaii.

“You can carry your iPad around and manipulate lights, volumes, the fire-place - you can open or close blinds.”

“It was nice to be part of a project like that, where you are able to transform something into this beautiful home.”

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l i v i n g a r e a .

every room is distinctive with exceptional, layered ceiling detail and custom-milled baseboards and window casings.

the 10 foot-coffered ceilings are accented with crown moldings that add layers of detail.

P r i n C i Pa l b e D r o o m .

bedroom at twilight.

Two-way fireplace has a unique contrasting “shadow box” presentation.

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k i t C h e n . ( o P P o s i t e Pa g e )

the kitchen, central to the pantry, dining room, living room, bar and temperature-controlled wine room, is an entertainer’s delight.

maple drawers have soft-close mechanisms, and blume undercount full extension slides. Cabinets have built-in recycling containers for eco-conscience convenience.

D i n i n g a r e a . ( o P P o s i t e Pa g e )

Dining area with large table positioned for views of okanagan lake and West kelowna.

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P r i n C i Pa l b at h r o o m .

bubble bath with a view. the soaker tub is nested in an arched alcove, beside a fireplace encased in a marble wall.

ensuite has his-and-hers vanities with separate sinks and lots of personal space. Cream-painted maple cabinets are accented with glass pulls. Countertops are italian Perlatto olympo marble.

m a s t e r Wa l k - i n .

this closet is more than kind to even the most fashionable garments.

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m e D i a r o o m .

Doc holiday and the earp brothers drop into the media room, which was designed to evoke a theatre feel. the home has a multi-media navnet a/v control system for viewing photos, home videos or movie library. listen to satellite radio or digital music library.

b a s e m e n t.

Downstairs has TV, custom-built fireplace, games room, and wet bar.

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a m a n D a b e l l F o r m a r s h a l l ’ s h o m e l i v i n g | i n t e r i o r D é C o r

b a r t l e & g i b s o n | k i t C h e n & b at h r o o m P l u m b i n g F i x t u r e s

C a n - n o r e l e C t r i C | e l e C t r i C a l C o n t r a C t o r / h o m e a u t o m at i o n s y s t e m / a u D i o v i D e o & l i g h t i n g C o n t r o l s y s t e m s

C u C i n a D e l r e C a b i n e t r y | C u s t o m m i l l W o r k & C a b i n e t r y

C u s t o m g r a n i t e W o r k s | a l l g r a n i t e s u P P l y & i n s ta l l at i o n

D i s C o v e r y g l a s s & a l u m i n u m i n C . | a l l i n t e r i o r g l a s s W o r k

F r a m e C u s t o m h o m e s | C u s t o m h o m e b u i l D e r

g r a n D o P e n i n g s W i n D o W & D o o r l t D . | W i n D o W s / D o o r s / h a r D Wa r e s u P P l i e r

m a r s h a l l ’ s h o m e l i v i n g | a l l F u r n i t u r e / a C C e s s o r i e s / F l o o r C o v e r i n g s

o k a n a g a n h a r D W o o D F l o o r s | h a r D W o o D F l o o r i n g s u P P l i e r

r o b i n s o n l i g h t i n g & b at h C e n t r e | s u P P l i e D a l l e x t e r i o r / i n t e r i o r l i g h t i n g F i x t u r e s

ta i l o r e D l i v i n g k e l o W n a | C u s t o m C l o s e t s

Wa l r o D Pa i n t i n g & D e C o r at i n g | i n t e r i o r Pa i n t i n g / s ta i n i n g / C l e a r F i n i s h e s

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ONLINESILVER TOMMIE FINALISTS 2012It’s that time of year again – the time to recognize the great achievements of some well-deserving businesses and individuals in the local residential construction industry. Join us in congratulating the Silver Tommie Finalists for 2012. In addition to winning Silver, they are now finalists for awards in the Gold Tommie Gala put on by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Central Okanagan in January 2013.

Go to the Editor’s Picks at OkanaganHOME.com for full details on the winners. You’re not going to want to miss the online sneak peek of the amazing projects that are up for Gold.

Photo credits clockwise from top: Orlan Photography, Shawn Talbot Photography, Liquid Estate Real Estate Marketing, Ed White

LEFEBVRE-SMYTH RESIDENCE

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Buying residential or commercial real estate is a serious venture with some potentially significant risks. Selecting the right proper� inspector can greatly reduce the associated risks. ¢e following information will help you understand the process.

What qualifications should an inspector have? Check the inspector’s credentials. A “certified inspector” with the designation CPI or CHI signifies that he or she is certified under a government act and is recognized by the courts and other professional bodies. ¢ere are two bodies that regulate home inspectors in BC: Canadian Association of Home & Proper� Inspectors (BC) and Applied Sciences Technologists & Technicians of BC.

A background in the building industry, as well as in the inspection field, is an asset. If you have not built or repaired it, how can you inspect it?

A qualified inspector must possess a good working knowledge of: building envelopes, structural components, plumbing/heating/electrical systems, roofing, ventilation and hazardous materials (e.g. asbestos related items such as Zonolite insulation).

¢e inspector needs to understand how all the components listed above function and how they work together as a system. ¢e abili� to communicate this information back to you is also important.

An experienced, perceptive inspector should notice design defects and signs of structural or component deficiencies (including unprofessional workmanship). Follow-up information from the inspector should include the ‘how to’ or ‘who to’ for making the necessary corrections.

Make sure you do your homework when accepting a referral for an inspector through your realtor. You must be certain that the inspector is working in your interest. Realtor/inspector relationships can pose a conflict of interest and are a cause for concern within our industry. As of March 31, 2009, all inspectors in BC need to be licensed under the Consumer Protection BC.

How much should a home inspection cost? It can cost thousands of dollars to sell an average house, yet people are sometimes surprised at a $600 fee to inspect the same proper�. ¢e inspection of an average 2,500 square-foot house, provided by a qualified inspector, should cost between $400-$600. ¢e inspection should include a detailed written report, complete with pictures in electronic form and a walk-through

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HOME IMPROVEMENTWHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOME INSPECTIONS & APPRAISALS |SHELL BUSEY

with you of the home. ¢ere should also be time for follow-up discussion. Allow 5 to 6 hours for a thorough inspection.

¢e bottom line is that the purchase of your home is one of the biggest financial commitments you will ever make. Do your homework, ask the right questions and do not base your selection of a proper� inspector on price alone.

Once you’re in your new home, you may want to renovate it. Homeowners are faced with questions like, ‘How much do I spend on my renovations?’ or ‘What will be the return on my investment?’ or ‘What should I put my renovation dollars into?’ Conversely, lenders will have questions such as ‘What is the purpose of your renovation?’ and ‘Are you renovating to increase the equi� in your proper�?’

A qualified real estate appraiser can help answer these questions. A detailed appraisal report on a proper� will provide two values. One will be pre-renovation or ‘as is’ and a second value would be post-renovation or ‘as if completed’.

¢ere are tools available to assist you in your renovation process. ¢e Appraisal Institute of Canada developed RENOVA, an interactive web-based guide, which was designed to give consumers a better idea of the return on investment that they can expect for a varie� of home improvements. When an appraiser makes their initial visit to the proper�, the appraiser will state what is seen upon inspection. Upon their follow-up visit they will state what is seen at that time, including all updates.

¢e appraiser should not comment on building code compliance or quali� of construction, unless that appraiser has specific expertise. Sometimes a lender will request a cost-to-complete estimate or a proposed budget for the renovation project on a specific proper�. ¢is information does assist the appraiser when determining the two separate values. It is good practice to back up and support any cost estimates, whether this information is provided by you, the homeowner, or by a contractor.

In conclusion, there are resources available to help you determine both the pre-renovation and post-renovation values of your home. You can also use the services of an accredited appraiser to provide an opinion of value. ¢is can aid in a better understanding of whether or not a renovation is worth your while. ¢e bottom line is that an appraisal will help you to realize the maximum return on your investment.

For more home improvement information, to send Shell an email or watch his Webcast, go to www.AskShell.com.

OkanaganHOME.com 29

OkanaganHOME.com30

Just over an hour away from Kelowna and 25 km from Vernon is Silver Star Mountain Resort. With 700 cm of snow annually, 115 ski/snowboard runs, sledding, skating, sleigh rides, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, bowling, a movie theatre and even wall climbing, it’s the perfect place to get away with friends and family.

Robin Baycro¦, Resort Services Manager is excited about the 2012/2013 winter season. “Silverstar has 5,600 beds in the village, including the world-renowned Snowbird Lodge and Silver Star’s newest proper�, the Firelight Lodge, located right beside Brewers Skating Pond and Tube Town.” ¢e Firelight is not what most people picture when they think of a ski lodge. It has contemporary s�ling akin to Yaletown and has a more modern feel to it.

Silver Star is blessed with all natural snow and they have a great mix of everything from beginner slopes to the dark side, which is predominantly black diamond and double black dia-mond runs. Night skiing is only $10 starting in January 2013.

Skiers and snowboarders co-exist well at Silver Star. ¢e Terrain Park/Rock Star Energy Drink Park is 20 acres in size and jammed with rails, fun boxes, spines and huge table top jumps. Rock Star also has the snow cross course and the Olympic s�le snowboard/ski cross, aimed for family fun.

“We have over 100 km of snowmobile trails in Sovereign Pro-vincial Park,” said Baycro¦. “We have guided tours available from within the resort area. We even have a little mini BMX s�le track for the kids to drive mini snowmobiles and it’s lit up at night.”

Not up for skiing, snowboarding, or sledding? How about a horse drawn sleigh ride or a gourmet dinner at a rustic cabin, or maybe you’d be more inclined to do some wall climbing in

the National Altitude Training Centre. ¢e Ousia Day Spa o�ers everything you need to relieve tension and completely relax. ¢ere’s the Gallery Odin inside Kal and Maria Molnar’s private home, with around 30 BC artists with only original art. Or per-haps you’d like to knock things down, in which case, there is bowling.

“Pin Heads Bowling Alley is brand new this year,” said Baycro¦. “¢ere are four lanes of 10-pin bowling with a cozy lounge serv-ing wine and après ski drinks. It is super high tech with big LCD screens and iPads for keeping score and it’s located in the lower level of the Firelight Lodge.”

A¦er a hard day enjoying yourself, you’re going to have to eat and Silver Star has great places to dine.” ¢ere are 16 places to eat at Silver Star,” said Baycro¦. “¢ey range from the cafeterias to the Silver Grouse Steak and Chop House. It rivals any restau-rant in the North Okanagan. It’s a cozy 40-seat setting overlook-ing the Monashee Mountains.”

¢ere are several après ski and a¦er dinner places in Silver Star as well including, ¢e Bulldog, Long John’s Pub and ¢e Saloon where you can dance the night away.

If that’s not enough, throughout the season they have events like the snow sculpture competition, provincial level free s�le skiing, the over the hill downhill and so much more. For more info, go online to SkiSilverStar.com.

AT HOME AND AWAY

A WEEKEND AT

SILVER STARMOUNTAIN RESORTWRITTEN BY DARCY NYBOPHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN RESORT

Photo by Rowan ThorntonPhoto by Morten Byskov

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Photo by Rowan Thornton

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KITCHEN ESSENTIALSFLAVOUR LAYERING | BRUNO TERROSO

Bruno Terroso is the Executive Chef at Vanilla Pod Restaurant at Poplar Grove Winery in Naramata, where he has been with the company for 7 years. Some of his earlier culinary experience includes work at Naramata Hertigage Inn and the Bonfire Bistro in Kelowna. Before this he trained in the culinary arts program at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, BC.

If you were to ask my Mother, she would say that she taught me everything I know. My years of experience aside, she may be right. Growing up Portuguese, it was always about food and family. Having 20 people around the dinner table was not uncommon… some might even call that a slow day. Every dish that my Mom put on that table had depth and layers of flavour. So while great ingredients can lead to great dishes, I believe it is knowing how to combine them to produce those layers of flavour that will have people asking for the recipe.

So what is flavour layering? It is the structuring of flavours by combining ingredients at various stages of the cooking process, while utilizing every opportuni� to bring out the unique qualities and contributions of each ingredient. Com-pare it to listening to an orchestra… the combination of sounds produces a beautiful harmony, but you are still able to pick out each instrument. In essence, that is the goal of a great dish.

A key element in layering and enhancing flavours is choosing complementary ingredients, keeping in mind that com-plementary flavours are o¦en contrasting. While this may sound confusing, two contrasting flavours can enhance one another. For example, sweet and sal�. You can blend tastes, textures and aromas while retaining each ingredient’s in-dividual flavour.

Now, don’t get discouraged! While this may sound time consuming and labour intensive, layering can be as simple as caramelizing onions, deglazing a sauté pan, reducing stock or wine, or seasoning at each step. So take your time. Enjoy the process. Build those layers. Make something that tastes good, taste even better. Your family and friends will love you for it. ¢ey may even want the recipe.

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KITCHEN

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Kitchen Photography by Darrell Uruski | Kitchen by Berard Design Group

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Mountain Plumbing faucet (model MT1401) for instant hot water at the island. Find at Baths By Design. BathsByDesign.net

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Polymer modified concrete is sculpted directly onto the wall surface to create the texture, look and feel of reclaimed brick. This is a lightweight option to other brick alternatives. Work done by Brandon Johnson Design Studio. BrandonJohnson.ca

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Solid Sawn 7” Oiled Fumed White Oak by Vintage. Available at Okanagan Hardwood Flooring Co. Ltd. OkanaganHardwoodFloors.com

COMPLETETHE LOOK

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INDUSTRYTOMMIE AWARDS – A TOOL FOR CONSUMERSWritten by Rob Voros

Have you been seeing more of this gold-clad fellow around lately? It’s Tommie time again and it is important that we take time each year to applaud the companies who lead our industry with professional and high-caliber projects, despite what has been a di°cult few years. ¢ese companies represent a building industry that is delivering outstanding service and quali�. ¢eir continuing commitment to excellence makes a powerful contribution to the improving economy and housing market of the Okanagan. ¢e Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), Central Okanagan’s Tommie Finalists have been announced and we look forward to the Gold Gala on January 26th at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort & Conference Centre.

¢e Tommie Awards provide value to our members and to the communi�. It is a vehicle that provides validation to members that have raised the bar and created a product or service to be proud of. ¢is includes recognition by their peers, as they have found a way to add an innovative touch to a communi�, home, renovation or product in an industry that excels in building the best.

¢is year’s awards featured over 140 entries that showcased amazing new homes and incredible home renovations throughout the Okanagan Valley. In a total of 48 categories, these entries showcase the quali�, imagination and ingenui� within our industry that continues to strive for excellence.

What does this mean to you, the consumer?

From product and service providers, to the tradespeople, builders and developers, each feels the pressure to o�er fresh ideas and innovation. In doing so they can compete with their peers and capture the attention of the industry, media and consumers. ¢is is how the Tommie Awards feed the industry’s highly competitive and innovative spirit. New homes, new communities and virtually every component of the two have progressed substantially over the years. Common features found in new homes today were once unique new features included in a Tommie Award entry.

¢e awards are a significant measure of the ‘best-of-the-best’ in a competitive industry - a great tool for the consumer. ¢e standard of excellence is raised every year, as all contributors to the residential construction industry evolve to keep up, and that means the customer is the ultimate winner.

Watch out for businesses showcasing the CHBA’s Tommie statue or logo. When you see him, you can be sure that you’re dealing with quali�.

“Winning a Tommie is something to strive for...and when you win, it’s the best feeling in the world! Makes it all worthwhile.” - Gina Tyerman, Authentech Homes

“¢e recognition we receive means a lot to all of us at Inspiration Homes. It motivates our entire team to continue doing what we do really well – build award-winning homes for our clients in Vernon, British Columbia and the surrounding area. But even more than keeping us motivated, winning a Tommie Award for Excellence signals to our clients - past, present and future - that we really take our work seriously.” - Rod Doroshuk, Inspiration Homes Vernon

“It is always an honour to be recognized for your work but because the Tommies are evaluated by people in the industry that means more to us. Being considered one of the best by experts in your industry is one of the highest forms of recognition.” - Al Ryder, Dilworth Homes

“We are very proud to be recognized by the Tommie Awards and we feel that the awards we have received give our clients confidence that we will do an excellent job building their home. We think that everyone here at Bridges feels that they are part of a very special communi�.” - Sandi Barr, Valux Homes/Bridges Living

Canadian Home Builders’

Association

Rob Voros is the Vice President of AcuTruss Industries Ltd., a supplier of professionally engineered and manufactured roof truss and floor support systems. Rob is also the past President (2011/2012) of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Central Okanagan and presently acts as the Tommie Awards Committee Chair.

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It all started with a narrow lot and a homeowner’s dream. That was combined with the expertise of Chriscan Construction and the know-how of George Gowlland, Architect, to create one of the most challenging, yet rewarding builds of the year.

¢at same home, known as ¢e Ambleside, won four Tommie Silver awards in 2012 and is in the running for the Gold Awards, which will be announced in January 2013.

“We couldn’t have done this without our chief organizer, juggler and problem solver, Jimmy Kitchin,” says Len Suchocki, president of Chriscan Construction. “Due to the constraints of a 17 foot-wide home, the unique challenge was to build a living space that didn’t feel like a narrow corridor.” ¢ey also had to contend with a 25 foot-wide lot that le¦ nowhere to stage the build.

“We had room to park one vehicle and we had no room in the back because we had to have a place to put the dirt we excavated,” says Suchocki. “¢e scheduling was constantly being changed because lead times for delivery had to work with lead times on the supplier end. We were always worried about being overcrowded.”

Even with time and space constraints, the house was finished in nine months, once they’d gotten over all the municipal bylaws and hurdles. ¢e result, as you can see in the photos, is a 2,175 square-foot masterpiece.

¢e owners also wanted a garage for their vehicles, so it was placed behind the house for lane access. “We placed the heat pump in a depression on the garage roof as there wasn’t any more yard space le¦,” Suchocki points out.

WRITTEN BY DARCY NYBOPHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN JEWALL PHOTOGRAPHY

T H EA M B L E S I D E

E X T E R I O R .

The front of the home was finished off with synthetic lawn and a xeriscape garden.

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D i n i n g / l i v i n g a r e a .

the home’s main door opens into the dining/living area, which overlooks the lake. bi-parting patio doors allow a natural flow of light through the home.

k i t C h e n .

Floor-to-ceiling cabinets and wood grain porcelain tile give this kitchen a warm, homey feel.

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 8 .

¢en came the challenges on the inside of the house itself. “It was so narrow, so we made it as open as possible. We put the staircase o� to the side, and put windows top and bottom so lots of light could come in from the north side. We also created a glass-covered roof over the recessed front door to allow for more light. ¢ere’s a balcony o� the master bedroom overlooking the lake. With the glass railings, the space seems to carry on beyond the house. It’s an illusion to increase the sensation of space. What you see is what you feel.”

Gowlland had his work cut out for him when it came to making narrow look open and airy. “On the north side we created a continuous cloister, so the light comes down the stairwell from above as well as from the windows on the side. Another unique aspect of this home is that they didn’t want their master bathroom to be a separate room.”

Gowlland put his plans together and a feature tub was placed so one could look through the fireplace, through the master bedroom and to the outside while in the tub. “We recessed the storage cabinets to give the bathroom more space,” explains Gowlland. “¢e walk in closet was placed at the far end of the bathroom with a separate room for the toilet. We also put a glass wall between the stairwell and master bedroom and an 8-foot door with a glass panel above it to let the natural light flow through.”

Other space saving ideas were to have the TV mounted to the ceiling and have two fixed panel, bi-parting patio doors o� the living area. ¢e front yard had synthetic lawn put in and a small front garden was planted with xeriscape plants with no irrigation for low maintenance.

“We oriented everything [windows, glass doors] to face east with as much side light as we could pick up,” says Gowlland.

“In the basement, window wells were created to bring in as much light as possible. It opened up the basement to give this large open space good flow through from the gym area to the home theatre area.”

¢e flooring in this home truly does add to the beau� of the design. ¢e main and upper floors are 6 x 36-inch slabs of porcelain tile with a wood grain finish to give it a warm feeling. ¢e award-winning staircase is made of wood purchased from Bridgeport Floors.

¢e biggest challenge faced in the design and construction of this home was the fact the house was long and narrow with no supporting inside walls to brace it. ¢e openness and windows made it very livable, but the challenge was to make it sound. “We had to overcome that by making shear walls wherever we could,” says Suchocki. “We ended up making all the walls shear walls as well as any little dividing walls (like the small wall between the ensuite and master bedroom).”

He explains further, “A¦er the walls were framed with 2 x 6s we skinned the whole wall with a sheet of metal, then attached plywood and drywall to that. We did that right down into the basement so the entire three floors of the house are tied together with steel.”

In the end, despite all the trials and tribulations, Chriscan Construction and George Gowlland created more than an award-winning house; they’ve created a cozy, comfortable home.

P R I N C I PA L S U I T E . ( A L S O O P P O S I T E PA G E )

The master bedroom shower looks across the soaker tub and through the two-sided fireplace, into the master bedroom, while the master bedroom overlooks the lake.

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Even Tommie paid attention when Nesbitt Originals and Okanagan Dream Builders mixed wood and steel in a home renovation.

¢e blend of traditional and modern impressed the people on the Hot Holiday Homes tour in 2011, but more importantly it impressed the home own-ers, and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association judges who nominated him for a gold Tommie, em-blematic of building excellence.

“It was a unique house, kind of French provincial,” Paul Nesbitt of Nesbitt Originals says. “¢e couple were modernists and wanted contemporary. We said, let’s hit on all the major factors and let’s see if we can detail it using dark woods mixed with some stainless steel.”

He just tweaked some parts of the house - replacing drywall ceilings with dark wood, updating fireplac-es, or repainting - but even minor changes added pizzazz to the aging décor.

But the house came alive when he laid three-inch stone on kitchen counters, hung an $8,000 light fix-ture above the island, turned a traditional fireplace into a linear one with backlighting, replaced wood-en stairs with stainless steel, and covered the patio; separating sitting and dining areas with a double-edged fireplace.

“¢e clients were just so excited. Our tradesmen are second to none.” Happy clients keep builders in busi-ness, but the “800 ladies and 10 guys” who traipsed through the house on the Hot Holiday Homes tour also validated Nesbitt’s design decisions.

“I heard all the comments. It was encouraging to have people walk through and go, ‘oh, I love this house.’ ¢ey look at all the stainless steel on the stairs and fireplace and in the library, and go ‘wow, I didn’t know that would work.’

“Everybody was skeptical that injecting stainless steel into a traditional home would come together, but we pulled it o�.”

WRITTEN BY ROSS FREAKEPHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE DIMITROV/DIGITAL

DEAN PHOTOGRAPHY

F E S T I V EF A C E L I F T

E X T E R I O R .

The roof over the front entrance is stainless steel, as are the gutters. Door is plaided with stainless steel panels. Soffits are fir.

B A C K YA R D .

The covered patio has sitting and dining areas. Folding, sliding doors open the patio to the outside, while folding screens slide across to keep bugs out.

D I N I N G R O O M .

The dining room was decorated for the Hot Holiday Homes tour.

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k i t C h e n .

the $8,000 light over the island was found at the neoCon interior Design show in Chicago.

l i b r a r y.

after using the rolling ladder to find the right book, residents can relax in a big chair in front of the fireplace. the recess was created for artwork, which commands the room.

OkanaganHOME.com 45

l i v i n g a r e a .

the living room was created around the couch, which was bought before the home was renovated.

the linear fireplace is backlit with blue light, which can be changed to different colours. the slab of stone is surrounded by polished stainless steel. the etruscan horse above the fireplace also shows up in a granite inset near the stairs, and at the front gate.

P r i n C i Pa l b e D r o o m .

the fireplace was moved so it aligned with the bed. the door leads out to the hot tub.

the ceiling flows down behind the headboard in the master bedroom and ties the two sides together. the ceiling to the right is recessed. the floor has ceramic tile, which runs throughout the house and was chosen so the big dogs wouldn’t ruin the flooring.

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Kelowna’s newest Penthouse owners are on top of the world.

¢e buyers snatched up the last two of the 92 units available in the 15-storey modern concrete tower. It took only two years a¦er construction wrapped-up in 2010 to sell out in a tough real estate market, a testament to the top-notch quali� of the condo, says INvue sales manager, Jane Wilson.

“Not many other buildings have these kinds of ame-nities,” she says. “It’s fun showing people the roo¦op. Your views are amazing.”

¢e roo¦op o�ers a sweeping view of the lake, moun-tains and agriculture that make the Okanagan such a desirable place to live. It also boasts a pool, jacuzzi and patio. ¢ere’s a gym, sauna, billiards room and dog wash inside.

Located a stone’s throw from Orchard Park Shopping Centre, the INvue condo’s cruise ship shape helps it stand out on the skyline.  

“It’s designed with space in mind,” says Adrian Block, the president of Rykon Construction. “When you walk through the lobby for instance, it’s a real lobby - not an a¦erthought lobby.”

Four massive concrete pillars stretching to the vault-ed ceiling greet those walking into the building. It’s a

WRITTEN BY DAVID WYLIEPHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN JEWALL PHOTOGRAPHY

B I r D ’ s E y E

I N

foreshadow of what’s to come in the penthouse suites, with their high ceilings and exposed concrete.

¢e larger of the two penthouses is 2,500 square feet, with three bed-rooms and it sold in November. ¢e unit comes with a dramatic mil-lion-dollar view highlighted perfectly by the floor-to-ceiling triangular wall of windows visible from the living room, kitchen and lo¦; agricul-ture to the le¦, Okanagan Lake ahead and ci� views to the right.

¢ere are three balconies, o� the living room, guest bedroom and prin-cipal bedroom. ¢e upstairs principal bedroom’s ensuite bathroom features a sleek infini� tub and steam shower, with radiant heated floors underfoot.

“We wanted that luxury spa feel, so we wanted space and height and a sense of richness,” says Block.

v u e

OkanaganHOME.com 49

The second, smaller penthouse sold in October. It has two bedrooms and features similar eye-catching modern finishes, custom touches and angular designs as the first. The kitchen in the 1,800 square-foot unit feels slightly more spacious, but the suite doesn’t have the same 180-degree view of the first. Instead, a long wall of windows faces south over fields of green to where the horizon touches mountaintops. The same view can be seen from a window in the ensuite bathroom that frosts over at the flip of a switch.

Rykon is no stranger to the condo market, having built 12 concrete towers in Vancouver. The company is also working on other projects in the Okanagan, including the 525-lot So-noma Pines development by the Two Eagles golf course in West Kelowna.

L I V I N G A R E A .

Angular design in the 2,500 square-foot INvue condo penthouse helps show off the sweeping view of the Okanagan, including agriculture, mountains, Okanagan Lake and cityscapes.

The floor-to-ceiling windows are equipped with automatic shutters to soften the light coming into the penthouses.

OkanaganHOME.com50

k i t C h e n .

the modern kitchen, with granite countertops, gives cooks a nice view of kelowna while they create culinary treats.

P r i n C i Pa l b at h r o o m .

the ensuite bathroom is designed to give a luxury spa-like feel, with a steam shower and double faucets.

OkanaganHOME.com 51

L I V I N G A R E A .

Charcoal Canadian maple hardwood is underfoot through much of the penthouses. Both homes were purchased furnished with modern, eye-catching pieces.

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Life would be much simpler if you could just pick your home out of a catalogue, customize it to suit your needs, and have it set up and delivered; all within two or three months. Kurt and Kris Goodjohn thought so too and created Karoleena Homes.

¢eir factory is based in Calgary and they are look-ing to expand into BC, Eastern Canada and the United States. What makes Karoleena Homes stand out from the competition is their demand for qual-i� and e°ciency. “We have in-house architects that are professionally trained to create smart living spaces,” said Kurt Goodjohn. “With a 1,500 square foot modular home you get the same functionali� you would find in some 2,000 to 2,500 square foot homes that have a lot of wasted space.”

¢en there is the actual strength of the homes. ¢e modules are a steel structure making them 400 per-cent stronger than most other modular homes and substantially stronger than a �pical wood frame home. ¢ese homes are highly energy e°cient. ¢e walls are anywhere from R28 to R60 with ceilings starting at R51. “We have gone through a lot of the models and our modular homes have an EnerGuide rating of 91,” said Kurt. “A �pical home has an En-erGuide of 74. ¢at translates to savings on heating and cooling.”

Creating your own custom-made home is as easy as sitting down and talking to the people at Karolee-na. ¢ey do everything for the homeowner, from designing your home to getting permits and pour-ing foundations, to setting up the home, putting on the roof and finishing the inside. “It’s like putting 50,000 pound Lego blocks together, explains broth-er Kris from his home in Naramata. “¢e modules are wrapped in protective packaging and trucked to

WRITTEN BY DARCY NYBOPHOTOGRAPHY BY PLATINUM HD CANADA

THECOMPETITION STACKS UP

your home site. Once they arrive, cranes take the modules o� the trucks and stack them into place. ¢en the crew takes over connect-ing the electrical and plumbing. ¢e interiors are 95 percent com-plete when they leave the factory, so there is not much le¦ to do ex-cept when drywall seams need to be created or a cabinet needs to be put into place. ¢e modules are already sealed from the outside. A¦er that, the siding and roof is completed.”

According to Kris, putting a home together can take anywhere from five days to two weeks, depending on the size and if it has a below ground level. If a basement is involved, they will have a crew onsite to finish that as well.

Kris’s home was based on their Kitsalano model, then adjusted to accommodate for a walk out basement. It has a full geothermal heat-ing system and an ELAN automation system for audio/video, light-ing, indoor climate control and securi�. It was designed with that specific lot in mind, taking full advantage of the view, the arc of the sun and the landscape. ¢ey even planned for a modular addition to go onto the house in the future. “¢ere is a window on the second floor that pops out that can be turned into a door or just an opening for a hallway to the new section,” he explained. “¢e beau� of these homes is you can keep adding to them. As long as your original de-sign is expandable, lot size is your only limit as to how much you can add on.”

As for cost, the price ranges from $250 to $300 a square foot when everything is included. “We have a set time frame and work on a fixed budget,” explained Kurt. “If anything goes wrong, that’s our cost, not the homeowner.”

To find out more about Karoleena modular homes go to www.karoleena.com. You can also see them on YouTube on Dragon’s Den as they get a great business partner in W. Brett Wilson.

OkanaganHOME.com 53

b at h r o o m .

this home has a shower with enough room for two, an overhead rain can, two showerheads, and double sinks. a tub could be added to the extension at a later date or put into the basement bathroom. a hanging toilet is located on the left behind the shower to maximize space.

k i t C h e n .

open kitchen area with built-in appliances, floor-to-ceiling cabinets and lots of drawers.

l i v i n g a r e a .

Floor-to-ceiling windows outside kitchen/dining area allow for full natural light when cooking and entertaining.

lift and slide doors that open up the whole room to give you more indoor/outdoor space.

................................

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ARTIST PROFILESTU AND YVONNE GOLDBERG

Imagine watching contestants racing around the world under terrible du-ress, experiencing excruciating weather conditions in every mode of exotic transportation from hot air balloons to rickshaws - in almost total silence.

“Music makes it exciting, ” says composer-musician, Stu Goldberg, who helped establish the library of music for the 13-time Emmy Award-winning CBS televi-sion reali� show, ¢e Amazing Race. “Executive producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, wanted a soundtrack of wall to wall chaos, but reflecting a sense of location from Italy to ¢ailand without being a travelogue,” explains Goldberg. “It was a tremendous challenge - 45 minutes of big action music and it had to be composed in three days.”

Perhaps best known in the Okanagan as a local jazz pianist, record producer for Anna Jacyszyn’s soothing vocals and composer of Stage Within for Ballet Kelowna, Goldberg’s modest demeanor belies his extensive accomplishments. In early years, Goldberg realized a successful solo career in Europe, recording 14 albums before moving to Los Angeles as a session musician.

One of those sessions happened to be as featured keyboardist among 100 mu-sicians for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.

Over the years, Goldberg has composed hundreds of scores for film and televi-sion in Canada and the U.S., most recently for ¢e Bouquet directed by Anne Wheeler and starring Danny Glover.

“I have to be a chameleon and compose, play, produce for all kinds of projects,” says Goldberg realistically. “I love music and art - they are inseparable to me,” says painter, music teacher and Stu’s partner in life, Yvonne Goldberg. “My Dutch grandmother was a concert pianist and my mother kept this tradition alive by teaching me classical music and exposing me to opera, ballet and art.” And not surprisingly, Goldberg met her husband Stu at one of his jazz concerts in Germany in 1980. ¢ey have been married for 30 years with three children.

European trained with a Masters Degree in Art & Music, Goldberg and family moved from Los Angeles to Penticton eight years ago. She saw an opportune niche to establish the one-woman YGO - Fine Art Gallery to showcase her paintings.

“Living here, with the beau� of the Okanagan’s light on the water; the unpredictabili� of the weather, sky and cloud formations; the shape of the rocks and mountains, really influences the depth and varie� of my work,” she confesses.

Goldberg’s intuitive colour alchemy whether in oils, acrylic or pastels and her innate abili� to metamorphosize her paint-ing s�les from impressionism, contemporary to the abstract, have made her large canvases of landscapes, portraits and still life, highly sought a¦er. She loves the challenge of commissions and they are compelling additions to several wineries, corporations and private homes. Her new series of paintings are a modern take on women painted by Old Masters, but set in the Okanagan. ¢ey are infused with Goldberg’s subtle humour: Oka Lisa, (a¦er Leonardo da Vinci); her joie de vivre; Okana-gan Mermaid (a¦er John William Waterhouse) and Goldberg’s sensuali�: Angel of the Valley, (a¦er Abbott Handerson ¢ayer).

“Although we work separately, Stu and I brainstorm together – we are never short of ideas. We’ve collaborated on CD covers for recording artists he has produced, photo shoots and my line of greeting cards based on my paintings. We always tease each other a lot,” laughs Goldberg, “but we can’t imagine our lives without being creative and each other.”

For more on the Goldbergs visit StuGoldberg.com and YGO-FineArt.com.

Written by LAURA GOLDSTEIN

Above: “Okanagan Lake” oil on canvas Below: “Sunburst” acrylic on canvasby Yvonne Goldberg

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GREEN HOUSING WILL YOUR HOME’S ENERGY PERFORMANCE MEASURE UP? | KEITH VEERMANIf you’re a residential builder, or buying a new construction house, you’ve likely heard buzzwords like LEED™, PassivHaus, Built Green™ and EnerGuide 80®. ¢ese are concepts that sound nice… and green-ish, but what do they mean in terms of construction and the future livabili� of a home? Does it mean you have to go solar? Or live o� of the grid?

¢e reali� isn’t so extreme. Take EnerGuide 80 for example. An initiative of Natural Resources Canada, you might already recognize EnerGuide labeling when buying a new fridge or clothes washer. It applies to homes too. According to Natural Resources Canada’s website* “An EnerGuide rating shows a standard measure of a home’s energy performance. It shows you (and future buyers) exactly how energy e°cient a home is. ¢e e°ciency is measured on a scale from 1 to 100, with 100 being a home that is considered airtight, well insulated, su°ciently ventilated and requiring no purchased energy on an annual basis.” Today, most new homes built to code achieve an EnerGuide rating of only between 65 and 72.

A home that is rated EnerGuide 80 or 85 is considered energy e°cient. For the home’s resident that means lower energy bills and a more comfortable home, with a smaller environmental footprint. To achieve EnerGuide 80 or higher when building a new home, you must first contact a certified energy advisor to have your plans evaluated. ¢e advisor will then model di�erent options focusing on heating, ventilation and the building envelope to improve e°ciency.

It’s up to you to decide what options you choose to achieve EnerGuide 80 or higher. ¢is could mean installing high-performance windows, incorporating e°cient insulation technologies such as insulated concrete forms, or installing a high-e°ciency natural gas furnace or air source heat pump.

Achieving EnerGuide 80 or higher can help make your project stand out from the crowd, attract buyers and increase resale value. Better yet, FortisBC o�ers rebates for energy-e°cient new home construction. To learn more visit fortisbc.com/newhome.

Keith Veerman is Manager, PowerSense Efficiency at FortisBC. FortisBC’s PowerSense program is continually evaluating energy saving products.

*oee.nrcan.gc.ca, Natural Resources Canada, Of-fice of Energy E°ciency, What is the EnerGuide Rating System?

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clients throughout each job and say it is really the secret to their success.

“We’re not cheap, but we like to give people good value for their money,” he said.

From installing motion-censor under-cabinet lighting to cra¦ing handmade roofs, there is no job where MAB Construction can’t add the feel of luxury.

And Mark just might be the only carpenter in the Okanagan to enjoy a working roster of high-end hockey players’ homes with almost no knowledge of their celebri�. As a contractor for Timberhaven Homes and Predator Ridge Construction, he’s had a hand on some of the most extravagant projects in the area; and yet, he readily admits he likes the more modest, creative jobs just as well.

Working by himself, adding subcontractors when he needs them, he figures there’s no job too big, too small or too di°cult for him to figure out.

“I like what I do. I’m good at what I do, and I’m very honest with my clients,” he said. “If I don’t think a job needs to be done, I’ll talk myself down.”

This year, MAB Construction spent five months on one renovation and completed nine other projects. They target renovations with an eye to building whole homes in the future.

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MAB CONSTRUCTIONWritten by Jennifer Smith | Photography Courtesy of MAB Construction

BUILDER PROFILE

A nail is a nail and a hammer is a hammer, but in the construction industry you’ve got to know how to hit the nail on the head and hammer home your timing.

So when Franki and Mark Beaney fell in love with the Okanagan on a family vacation in 2007, they understood time was of the essence.

¢en in their mid-thirties, with two young children and a successful carpentry business just north of London in Buckinghamshire, England, Mark’s skills were quite marketable to contractors scrambling to meet the demands of a red-hot housing market and growing ci�.

“I was o�ered a job by Greyback, the company doing the bridge construction, before we even got over here,” said Mark. “Of course, when we arrived, the job wasn’t there.”

¢e couple landed just in time for the global financial crisis to shake up the industry, but Mark wasn’t about to head home. He started in construction as a teenager and knew how to build a career as a builder.

“¢roughout the world, building is building, a house is a house; so I learned the Canadian way,” he explained.

As housing in England is primarily brick, Mark had to pick up concrete work and framing. He quickly landed a job with Gord Turner Renovations, adapting the knowledge he had from converting barns to trendy country houses in England to BC’s wood-frame construction.

He enjoyed working with the “creamy, smooth North American concrete,” but discovered his attention to detail as a finishing carpenter was marketable on its own.Within a year, he created MAB Construction, with Franki providing the o°ce assistance he readily admits he is “rubbish at”, when she was not working as a pharmacy assistant.

Mark has 20 years of self-employment to his name, and an unparalleled eye for quali�, so he had no trouble securing an enviable clientele out of the gate. ¢e Beaneys make an e�ort to stay in close communication with

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PLANNING

Geothermal is one of the newest, yet ancient ways to heat and cool your home. We contacted some experts, Peter Harteveld and Peter Whiten of Custom Air Conditioning. ¢ey’ve amassed a wealth of knowledge over the past two decades and we went to them to get the story on geothermal.

Before the shovels hit the dirt, the planners have to look at the builder’s plans and the topography of the site. ¢en the �pe of field is decided upon; either horizontal or vertical. “We look at the application and the size of the building and do load calculations to see how much heating and cooling is required,” explains Peter Harteveld. “¢e more you can run o� a system, the more attractive it gets. For example a house with snow melt for the driveway, a hot tub and a pool, makes geothermal appealing because you can use it for multiple things.”

Harteveld says retrofitting existing buildings to geothermal can be done, but it is very intrusive. “You have to dig the yard up and bring piping into the mechanical room of the home through the foundation.” For those who are in a position to do a retrofit, Harteveld says to expect the cost to be 10 – 20 percent higher than a new build system.

Costs for geothermal vary greatly and are dependent on the situation. Costs are broken down into two segments; mechanical and field work. “¢e mechanical is what we put inside, the heating, the cooling, hot water, etc.,” says Harteveld. “¢e field work consists of drilling and trenching and laying the field. What we put inside the home is 20 – 25 percent more than a �pical heating/cooling system. As for outside, it is so variable, it’s hard to put a figure on it.”

¢e good news is the savings aspect of geothermal. “If you factor o� your cap costs and compare it on a system to system basis you see savings immediately,” says Harteveld. “If you are using savings as a benchmark to pay back your capital investment, it depends again on the number of features, size of the field, �pe of field, etc. For arguments sake, payback on a large complex proper� could be as soon as three years.”

Custom Air also recommissions systems. Harteveld explains, “¢e problem with some existing geothermal systems is they haven’t been commissioned properly so people aren’t seeing the energy savings they thought they should. We specialize in recommissioning the system to get it to do what it was supposed to do in the first place.”

Geothermal is meant to last 15 to 25 years for the mechanical equipment, and the ground loop should last for at least 50 years. If it is not set up properly it will not last, so make sure the people doing your geothermal set up are accredited.

For more information on geothermal go online to CustomAir.org.

Geothermal coils rest at the bottom of a trench, eight feet underground. This system will be used to heat and cool a large residential home.

GEOTHERMALWritten by Darcy Nybo

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ACCESSORIZE

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S P O T L I G H T G L O B E

Oozing with Hollywood charm, the Monahan Adjustable Tripod Antique Silver Lamp by Arteriors Home. Find at Marshall’s Home & Living. MarshallsHomeLiving.com

S O FA

Whitaker Sofa by Ethan Allen with a low lying tu¦ed back, generously scaled rolled arms, and three welted loose seat cushions. Choose exposed wood legs or a waterfall skirt. EthanAllen.ca

C A N D E L A B R A

¢e Queenstown Candelabra by Ren-Wil holds five candles and sparkles with its chrome finish. Find at Marshall’s Home & Living. MarshallsHomeLiving.com

B O O K C A S E

¢is Hutch S�le Bookcase by CDI International o�ers storage and s�le. Find at Marshall’s Home & Living. MarshallsHomeLiving.com

T H R O W P I L L O W S

Flounce Pillow in Red and Felt Flowers Pillow in Sand, with hidden zipper close for cleaning ease. Find at Pier 1 Imports. Pier1.ca

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