Western Living

Call of the Wild

Perfect Pairings

The New
Second City

A globe-trotting fashion designer chooses the far north for her mountain retreat.
By Amanda Ross
PLUS... 3 other homes here

A great restaurant meal deserves a great wine. We asked some of our favourite chefs and sommeliers to select a wine from their list and pair it with a dish from their kitchen.

Great food, stunning architecture and top art galleries. Chicago? Guess again—it’s Minneapolis.
By Timothy Taylor


Building a Mystery	Wild Eats	A Cabin in the Woods
The first look inside one of Victoria’s most talked-about new homes. Plus... Both Sides Now-The River Valley serves as the backdrop for an Edmonton family’s contemporary home Timeless Tradition- A Vancouver classic mixes and matches its way to perfection and... Shower Time-A collection of the latest and greatest water-delivery systems, for the discerning shower stall	A Cordon Bleu-trained chef discovers that eating well and camping need not be mutually exclusive	A visit to the iconic Lake O’Hara Lodge, the hidden gem of the Rockies Plus... The Easy Hard Way-A luxury mountain biking journey goes from Fernie to Whistler with sweet stops in between Luxe on the Line-A female angler travels to Northern Manitoba’s newest fly-in fishing lodge and gets hooked on the pursuit of some massive pike. and... You Can Go Home Again-A native son returns to Borden, his prairie stomping grounds.

Inspiring Renovations

Beauty and the Bath

The Real Deal

A Family Affair A Vancouver couple re-imagines a classic 1970s design.

Labor of Love A Samuel Maclure masterpiece gets a serious overhaul.

Saving Grace A river valley gem gets the royal treatment in Edmonton.

Double Happiness A Vancouver condo offers the best of both bathing worlds.

Pretty Things A Shaughnessy mansion gets a bath befitting its grandeur.

Room at the Top An Island escape leaves it all out in the open.

White Space A Calgary condo fits in a spa-sized steam shower.

An award-winning food writer gets the (not so) skinny on the lone-star state’s Tex-Mex cuisine. By Alan Richman

Kitchens You'll Love

25 Years in the Prairies

Aged to Perfection

Cream Rises A 1927 Victoria home gets a modern classic makeover.
Orange Crush A Dutch expat lets colour loose in his slick Calgary condo.
Urban Suburban A Vancouver designer decides to bring her work home
Fire and Ice Former NHL player Cliff Ronning scores with this Burnaby kitchen.
All the World’s a Stage It’s lights, camera, action in a dramatic Calgary home.

Modern Love A contemporary home spring up in a staid Manitoba subdivision.
Room for a Cue A Saskatoon couple renovates a groovy family home.

Winnipeg’s Rae and Jerry’s is a prime example of the West’s iconic old-school steakhouses


Eye in the Sky	Heartbreak Hotels	Chef Boy Next Door
A penthouse that soars above the Vancouver skyline challenges notions of private and public space.	Brad and Jen famously split up here—romantic Anguilla could break anyone’s heart. This winter, try on the flashiest jewel in the Caribbean.	Food Network Canada star Anthony Sedlak rocks recipes that demystify haute cuisine for everyday cooks.


Getaways	Top 40 Foodies (Under Forty)	California Dreamin’
Island Bliss Vancouver Island is becoming a spa hotspot. Stone Cold Beauty Kauai's raw beauty of nature. Girls Gone Mild Soul-soothing relaxation in Barbados. Chilango Fever Mexico City, a hotspot of a different kind.	These restaurateurs, chefs, winemakers, bartenders, producers and activists have rocked local palates in their own communities— and changed the way we eat across the West...one delicious plate, glass, taste at a time.	The hottest real estate spots for second homes. A Calgary designer's Palm Springs vacation home A Vancouver couple’s home in Santa Barbara wine country A golf aficionado's Palm Springs hideaway

Summer Homes


From the Gulf Islands to Lake Winnipeg, this is how the West summers. Bridging the Gap A challenging plot of land is transformed into a Bowen Island getaway for a Winnipeg couple. *Back to Basics* A Manitoba cabin proves just how beautiful (and inexpensive) a simple plan can be.

Food


*Beyond Breakfast* New Western syrups are tricklingonto the market: here are three to try.

Gardens


*Herbal Essences* Herbs enliven winter cuisine with fresh flavours. Here’s how to preserve your own crop—whether homegrown or from a farmer’s market.

Travel


Somewhere Down the Crazy River A summer cruise down the Yukon River reveals a place where the past lies just below the surface. Spalicious The rise of spa and resort cuisine: culinary programs where you’ll be tasting, slicing, dicing—and acquiring killer recipes to take home. It Takes a Village Regina is bouncing with prosperity and an influx of vibrant residents who are breathing new life into a classic neighbourhood. Seeing Stars Restaurant rating systems are as full of diamonds and stars these days as a bowl of Lucky Charms. Relais et Châteaux Grands Chefs are the real deal.

Wine


*Wine Forecast* The top Okanagan wine trends for the coming year. *Baja Sunrise* Fine Mexican wine joins cerveza and tequila behind the bar. *Join the Club* Take your interest in wine to the next level—by the glass or buy the acre. Black Hills 90210 Jason Priestley brings star power to Okanagan wine. *Cellars Market* An essential guide to properly storing your collection. *Green Vines and Wines* Taste the beginnings of an eco-friendly industry at these Okanagan wineries. *Organic, Biodynamic… Plonk?* Today green wines are earth-friendly and palate-pleasing.

Home Interiors


BATHROOMS The burgeoning home spa revolution is seening designers and architects blowing open walls, elevating the humble bathtub and transforming these private spaces into meditative retreats. A Zen spa The urban spa retreat The converted barn spa The spa condo KITCHENS A kitchen is truly our most personal space: it’s where we gravitate to as a family, where we park ourselves after a long day at the office, where we welcome our friends. Here, we take a look at how personality drives a functioning kitchen. The Green Kitchen *The Non-Kitchen Kitchen* *The Eatertainer Kitchen* *A Home for the Holidays* When homeowner Val Girgulis told Sally Healy she wanted a home that was perfect for big family parties and seasonal celebrations, the Calgary designer knew just what to do.

On September 10, 2008, Western Living magazine celebrated the winners of our first annual Designers of the Year Awards in six distinct categories. Read on to find out more about our esteemed judges, deserving winners, and how they’re changing the face of design today.
2009 nominations are now closed.
Watch for the winners in our September 2009 issue!

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