1000 shades of white

It used to be that when a DIY home decorator was bewildered by paint colour, the safe choice was white. In fact, many people still see white as a non - colour when it comes to paint, but nothing could be further from the truth. Interior designers create rooms done entirely in white with stunning results and you can, too!

Are there really 1,000 shades of white? Given the numerous paint companies, there are probably many thousands. The problem then becomes, "How do I choose the right white for my space?"

Because ofthe distinct subtleties in white paint colours, choosing just one can be more difficult than selecting from a red or blue palette. Its important to know whether you want a cool or warm shade of white, as well as how that undertone will play on the walls ofyour room. Just remember that any shade ofwhite is always determined by the undertone; white paint undertones are usually pink, blue, grey and yellow. If your room is urban and modern, choose whites with a cool blue undertone. On the other hand, to warm up a room, pick colours with a yellow undertone for walls and painted furniture ; choose pink undertones for smaller spaces such as the foyer or reading nook for a welcoming feel.

Making the MOST

Does anyone appreciate the outdoors more than the person who lives in a northern climate?

We suffer through what seem like endless months of sleet, snow or pounding rain, so and when the sun finally shines and the land turns green, we want to fling our doors and windows open and sip cooling beverages out of frosty glasses while sprawled on our decks or patios.

Today, more than ever, we can make our outdoor living spaces so inviting and welcoming that they literally extend our living rooms and blur the line between indoors and out. A properly designed outdoor living room can also stretch the al - fresco season considerably.

I recently visited a small cottage in Tofino. The owners had replaced one wall of their living room with a dark stained garage door. A garage door? Yes. And how glorious it was to roll it up on a warm May morning. Instantly the living room extends out to include a multi - level deck surrounded by fragrant gardens busy with buzzing hummingbirds.

Urbana

Instead of showing you glossy photos of someones kitchen, we would like you to visit our beautiful showroom where we have a wide range of samples to choose from and qualified designers to help you layout a kitchen that is all your own. Urbana has an extensive selection of every doorstyle and a lot of exciting displays to fill you with inspiration. And we can show you lots of glossy pics of Urbana kitchens or better still you can touch and feel the real thing. See you soon.

Michael Black, of Capital Iron says that the days of a simple patio or deck dressed with a round table, four chairs and an umbrella are long past. "I tell people today that there are only two limits to your back yard," Michael says. "Your imagination and your wallet."

But even if your wallet isnt bursting, you can turn your back yard into a vacation paradise. Lets start with patio furniture. You dont have to do what my friends in Yellow Point did and drag your living room furniture out to the deck. You can get the same look and feel with purpose - built patio furniture and heaters that mount on arbours, pergolas and on the side of the house.

Point Ellice house

Point Ellice House is like the house that Jack built. At first glance from the outside, its not easy to figure out which door is the main entrance. From inside the house, guests are faced by a labyrinthine layout of hallways and rooms and may be left wondering why the dining room is next to the bedrooms. "Rambling Italianate" is one of the popular architectural terms used to describe this National Historic Site, which houses British Columbias largest collection of Victoriana still in its original setting. The homes charms are enhanced by its beautifully restored nineteenth - century gardens, but its heritage character is overwhelmed by the surrounding noise and dust produced by one of Victorias few heavily industrial zones.

The house sits at the top of a bank overlooking Selkirk Water, a tidal channel between Victorias Upper Harbour and the Gorge Waterway. Once the traditional territory of the Sweng - whung First Nation, the property was acquired by the Hudsons Bay Company under treaty in 1850 and purchased by Chief Factor John Work as part of his vast Hillside Farm. It is generally believed that the original portion of Point Ellice House was built in 1861 for Works daughter Kate and her husband Charles Wentworth Wallace, and that it was designed by Wright and Sanders, Victorias first professional architects. The original wing was a simple one - storey, four - room cottage with a lean - to kitchen. Exterior wood - frame walls were covered with a stucco finish scored to resemble stone blocks.

H&Ls Feature Home Slide Shows!

Luminara, in Italy, is a traditional festival in which an entire town is illuminated by candle light. The resulting glow is echoed in award - winning custom - home builder Terry Johals recent project at Victorias Bear Mountain Golf Resort Properties. And so, when the time came to name the luxury property, Luminara fit the bill to a tee.

"The lighting is a key aspect of this house," says Johal, the second - generation craftsman behind Terry Johal Developments Ltd. "It was used to highlight the architectural detailing in the home. The real show stopper is the coffered ceiling of rare figured anigre that is illuminated by the lighting behind it."

Wood and light work in tandem to achieve the contemporary homes warm, inviting feel. An energy - efficient Lutron Whole Home lighting system was used to set various moods throughout the property. Appointed with recessed and indirect lighting, the foyers 18 - foot coffered ceiling carries through to the open living space, where a handsome slate fireplace anchors a wall of softly lit figured anigre. Finished in the same stain, birds - eye maple is showcased in the adjoining kitchens custom cabinetry. Recessed and toe - kick lighting enhance the woods stunning natural grain.

ARE WHERE THEY

The Wine Islands continue to be one of the fastest wine growing regions in the world. Close to 40 wineries dot the countryside of Vancouver Island from the Saanich Peninsula to the Comox Valley, from Salt Spring Island to Hornby.

Here, in a small geographical area, you will find wines from traditional European grape varieties, crafted with intense variation. They are delightful experiments in matching old varieties with a new landscape.
The most widely planted classic - grape varieties on the island are Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The Pinot Noir is a medium bodied, elegant and long lived wine that complements local specialties like salmon and lamb. This same grape is sometimes known as Pinot Grigio. These wines are distinctive, innovative examples of classic grape varietals. Lesser known varieties such as the Ortega, Siegerrebe and Bacchus that flourish in cool European climates are also popular amongst the island wineries.

Muse Winery, formerly Chalet Estate, is now in its tenth year of production on the Saanich Peninsula. It offers unique variations of traditional varieties and blends, such as Bacchus, with hints reminiscent of tart apples, key lime and mango popsicles.

The haunted history of Victorias Rithet Building

A few paces away from Bastion Square, in the heart of Old Town, is a well haunted by a boy who was accidentally killed there long ago. For more than 115 years, the existence of the well was forgotten until the building was renovated in 1975 and the boys ghost was released from its lonely resting place. The story provides a vivid link to Victoria during the formative gold - rush era and a macabre reminder that life can be nasty, brutish and short.

The 1100 - block on the east side of Wharf Street is comprised of a picturesque row of buildings reminiscent of San Francisco in the 1850s. In 1861, construction began on Commercial Rows warehouses, stores and offices, which were built for some of Victorias leading businessmen, such as Richard Carr and Robert Burnaby. The row of seven side - by - side buildings, some with common walls, were unified in appearance by decorative cast - iron columns along the front facade. The columns were cast in San Francisco, providing a very tangible link to the city which supplied Victoria with most of its goods. Commercial Row is considered to be British Columbias first strip mall.

Aloft Abu Dhabi wins Best New Hotel

A HOTEL FOR THE STYLE CONSCIOUS HAS BEEN HONOURED FOR ITS UNCONVENTIONAL LOOK

UAE: Aloft Abu Dhabi won the Best New Hotel award during the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference for innovation in design.

The contemporary theme of the hotel, which is the first of the brand to open in the Middle East in 2009, was headed by Nick Stoupas, director of projects, RPW Design.

"We were very excited to see that all of the hard work the entire team invested in the project was recognised," said Stoupas.

The brief was to stick to the prescribed brand personality of Aloft.

"Our client ADNEC appointed us to develop the brand and enhance it to meet the 4 - star level required in the UAE, by designing additional F&B facilities to complement its features. This included the DINE Restaurant, Mai Cafe and Relax @ 12. We also had to enhance and uplift the guestrooms and suites, upgrade the material specifications and FF&E specifications to accommodate the additional requirements of our client and for the region," he added.