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A tart and sweet cocktail made with a preserve or jam of your choosing. This one uses a clean and crisp vodka made with 100% Canadian ingredients.

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This 3-ingredient cocktail is a classic for a reason — it’s bold, refreshing and bitter in all the right ways. Opt for a botanical Irish gin for a great herbal note.

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“Luxe but edgy” was the way we described the Calgary designer’s style back in 2018 when we crowned Nam Dang-Mitchell as House & Home’s Designer of the Year.

Though her style has remained constant, Nam’s fame has grown to include a global clientele. We asked Nam to share her favourite things both now and always:

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Drawing on the beauty of marble, slate and other natural materials, Laminam ceramic surfaces, available from Julian Tile, transform nature-inspired colours, patterns and textures into dramatic surfaces for a range of applications. Highly durable yet lighter than natural materials, they’re low-maintenance and ideal for large walls, floors and countertops.

Here are five collections that caught our eye:

Diamond Collection

The Diamond collection was conceived around the idea of “Foreverness” – creating spaces that feel special now and for years to come. Cristallo Gold brings that idea to life with delicate amber veining and hints of gold for a look that feels both classic and fresh. Available in three distinct finishes: Rain, Caress and Polished. Laminam surfaces are highly resistant to heat, stains and are easy to maintain.

I Naturali Collection

I Naturali takes its cues from Carrara marble, travertine, basalt and obsidian, materials long associated with Italian architecture. In Noir Desir, a dark ground is traced with soft ivory veining for a dramatic look. Choose from three finishes: Natural, Bush Hammered and Polished.

Slate Collection

With its rich, enveloping green, Amazzonia takes its cue from the rainforest. Part of the Slate collection, it brings texture and a hit of colour to a room. Green is an enduring hue that continues to inspire interiors as a bold statement or as a soft neutral.

Rare Collection

Rare celebrates sophistication and the noble beauty of marble in a contemporary style. Warm tones and delicate veining give Taj Mahal its natural beauty. Soft but full of movement, it feels elegant and adapts to a wide variety of combinations.

In-Side Collection

Inspired by traditional Italian stone, Pietra Piasentina Grigio takes its greige, warm, putty-toned character below the surface. As with all tiles in this collection, colour and texture continue through the profile edges reproducing the sedimentary rock that inspires it. Pietra Piasentina Grigio comes in Natural and flame-textured Fiammato finishes.

Bring the Look Home

Laminam’s ceramic surface collections are available exclusively through Julian Tile in Western Canada. Discover a revolutionary range of thicknesses engineered for seamless fabrication. Explore a vast inventory of colours, finishes and designs ready to inspire your next project.

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Designer Emily Griffin of Griffin Houghton takes us inside her clients’ renovated home in Toronto’s Lawrence Park neighbourhood.

“It’s got tons of charm and tons of character — and we wanted to pay homage to the history of the home and integrate that into our design choices,” says Emily. French limestone tile in the foyer, inspired by Lynda Reeves, welcomes you into a home that’s elegant yet comfortable for its empty-nester homeowners and their blended family. A quiet creamy beige sets the tone, while colour and pattern come through in wall treatments, rugs, pillows and more.

The post A Circa-1915 Toronto Home Pays Homage To Its Past appeared first on House & Home.

A nature-loving couple from Whistler, B.C., were ready to take the plunge when it came to creating their Vancouver pied-à-terre. They decided to build Sea Star, a floating home, from scratch.

“Coal Harbour Marina gives us easy access to the hustle and bustle of downtown while being cocooned in our sweet floating oasis,” says one homeowner. Designer Negar Reihani was tasked with making the two-level seasonal home functional for the parents of seven, now empty-nesters, who love to entertain.

Negar chose durable materials suitable for a marine environment, high-end appliances, a dumbwaiter for food service between levels, and she embellished niches with whimsical wallpapers featuring lemons and butterflies. “The concept is farmhouse charm meets seaside cottage: it doesn’t look like any other houseboat I’ve seen,” says Negar.

HOUSE & HOME: How long did the build take?

THE CLIENTS: Two and a half years due to challenges with the floating foundation — it almost sank!

H&H: What attracted you to living in a floating home?

TC: We’ve lived in downtown apartments — including one overlooking the marina — and we thought it would be exciting to live here. Plus, it has no property taxes or condo fees, and the insurance is less expensive.

H&H: What are the pros of small-space living on the water?

TC: Waking up to seagull cries, watching otters catch fish and enjoying the life of sailors while living in the heart of the city. We have the best views of the mountains, Stanley Park and the Vancouver seawall.

H&H: Can you share any key costs?

TC: The cost amounted to 40 per cent more than building on land. We could have saved a lot of time, money and headaches — but it was worth it.

H&H: Do you ever feel claustrophobic or cramped?

TC: Never, thanks to nine-foot-tall ceilings, big windows and fun design features.

H&H: What was your biggest splurge and save?

TC: Our splurges were high-end appliances from Wolf, Miele and Gaggenau, and the best save was the brass portholes from Etsy.

H&H: What are the challenges of living in a small space?

TC: The bedroom and bathroom only accommodate one person at a time, so we take turns getting ready. One of us makes the bed first so there’s room to access clothes. The kitchen is well planned, but we have to be aware of not bumping each other when opening the dishwasher and fridge. Overall, Negar designed the interior so there’s a spot for everything as long as we put things away, or it can look untidy very fast. This has forced us to be neat as a pin!

H&H: How do you keep clutter at bay?

TC: Negar used every inch of storage possible, including drawers under the bed, a tall mirrored storage cabinet in the bathroom, drawers built into stairs, underseat storage cubbies, and even a dumbwaiter.

H&H: How many people can you host?

TC: We can host six guests very comfortably, or eight well-behaved friends!

The post Inside a Vancouver Houseboat Designed for a Couple Who Love to Host appeared first on House & Home.

This year, Behr created a new colour for the 2027 COTY: Grounded (T27-01), and House & Home was there for the reveal.

The paint hue reflects the rise of moody, nature-inspired colours with depth, and also represents an evolution from blue-greens that have been dominant, particularly on kitchen cabinets. Not only does 2027 mark a return to earthy tones, it’s also the 10th anniversary of Behr’s COTY. The reveal was staged in wine country in a subtle nod to terroir, the combination of soil, climate, and topography that gives grapes their distinctive flavour and character. 

 Grounded has subtle brown undertones to give it depth, plus it’s anchored by the warmth of olive and the vitality of the moss, so it’s a very balanced colour that’s versatile in different spaces. — Kayla Kratz, Behr’s Senior Director of Colour & Design Strategy

 “We’re definitely seeing a move to more earthen hues from a trend standpoint, says Kayla Kratz, Behr’s Senior Director of Colour & Design Strategy. “Grounded has subtle brown undertones to give it depth, plus it’s anchored by the warmth of olive and the vitality of the moss, so it’s a very balanced colour that’s versatile in different spaces.”

New shades inspired by nature include Tuscan Terra, a sun-baked clay brown, and an inky navy, Nightfall, a dark shade that doesn’t read as flat. Included in the palette are rich purples like plush plum Smokey Claret, and Sarsparilla, a dark cocoa cut with purple.

An open-air interpretation of Grounded on the window frames is a softer alternative to black, and the colour melts into the surrounding landscape. “We’ve seen people embrace darker colours on exteriors, window trim and doors,” notes Anna. “But instead of black or dark bronze, Grounded is a fun way to play with a deep, dark colour —it’s more nuanced.”

As trends shift from spare, greyed-out Scandi interiors to a more layered, English approach with paints that have heritage and character, designers and homeowners are embracing colours with brown undertones to inject warmth. 

“Once we knew the colour direction, we did dozens of formulas with our colour lab, all different variants of Grounded because we wanted to make sure that it’s creating depth without being dark, and it’s bringing vitality without being too bright,” says Kayla.

“Ribbed, fluted and tambour textures have just been huge, and we know people want to add that texture into their space, whether it’s through a small cabinet detail or complete walls,” Anna explains.

“People are staying in their homes for longer, and are finding smarter ways to use their space,” notes Kayla. “A ‘bantry’ is great way to transform closed-off storage and turn it into an extension of your living space. Whether it becomes into a full fledged bar with a sink, or a coffee bar, it creates a new experience.”

To make Grounded pop, contrast it with a complimentary colour like reddish-brown Tuscan Terra. Because these colours sit on opposite sides of the colour wheel, they amplify their intensity when placed side-by-side.

“No project is too small for Grounded, because it’s such a resonant colour, even if it starts with a side table or a bookshelf, it’s a beautiful way to bring colour and nature into a space,” Kayla says. “Grounded brings a whole new life to the room without having to change the furniture.”

The post Behr’s 10th Colour of the Year Is a Mossy New Shade appeared first on House & Home.

In this Halifax condo designed by Jonathan Legate, accessibility isn’t an afterthought — it’s seamlessly woven into the design of the home. Homeowner Cathie James-McKenna’s daughter, Kelly, uses a wheelchair and spends ample time at their home. “Jonathan makes accessible rooms beautiful,” says Cathie. Noteworthy details include an interior ramp leading to the terrace that blends with the hardwood floors, a luxe pink bathroom expertly designed to accommodate a portable lift, and a curvy foyer with rounded corners that’s as design-forward as it is accessible. Originally featured in the April 2025 issue of House & Home, tour the space and get a lesson in thoughtful, accessible design.

The post Every Inch of This Spectacular Halifax Condo Was Designed with Accessibility in Mind appeared first on House & Home.

Some homes feel like a deep breath, and this lakefront property belonging to couple Alix Perks and Mike Elliston is one of them.

Set on Osoyoos Lake in B.C., the house is situated in a pocket desert, featuring an antelope-brush shrub-steppe ecosystem with unique species (including brittle prickly pear cactus). “We never thought we’d buy a lake property,” says Alix, who assumed their vacations would revolve around international travel. Alix and Mike bought the lot in April 2021 during the pandemic, when many people were rethinking what “escape” meant. Osoyoos held personal significance, as the couple had married there in 2017, and Mike’s parents are longtime residents. What began as a quick look at one of the last available lakefront lots quickly evolved into a purchase, and a full design project.

Mike, a contractor, managed the build himself. Alix, a surgeon with a demanding career near Vancouver, wanted a place that felt calm and restorative. Together with architect Brian Billingsley of B Squared Architecture and designer Alexandra (Ali) Chapkin of Alexandra Interiors, they created a contemporary family retreat that blends the panache of ’60s Palm Springs with the soft warmth of a Mediterranean escape. “It’s a calm, relaxing space — it feels very natural, soft and layered,” says Ali.

The 4,900-square-foot house has five bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths. Mike says the cantilevered principal suite, floating staircase and curved walls made it an expensive build.

Ali came on as the designer from the outset. London-trained and Vancouver-based, she founded Alexandra Interiors in 2016 and had already worked with Mike on several projects, including the renovation of Mike and Alix’s heritage house in Vancouver.

Ali’s design instincts softened the home’s dramatic architectural shell. She offset its strong lines with gentle curves, plaster walls and warm, rich materials. Striking lighting, tambour oak millwork and custom art add texture, colour and continuity throughout.

The showpiece of the house is the spectacular 24-foot, double-height living area. “No matter what time of the year, you feel like you’re on holiday here,” says Ali. “This lovely light comes through the whole space and bounces around.”

Another standout element is the bespoke 12-foot-long, solid oak live-edge dining table, which gives the couple and their two university-aged children a natural place to gather.

The exterior is just as considered. The pool sits beneath the second floor, tucked under the cantilevered principal suite so that it stays shaded during Osoyoos’s intense summer heat. A fieldstone feature wall adds texture and privacy in the pool area and ties the exterior materials back to the house. “It’s become a year-round house,” says Mike. “We come up in the winter and are able to use the sauna and hot tub, and cold plunge in the pool.”

This vacation home repeatedly draws Alix and Mike’s two children back from school, and the family’s golden retriever, Juno, regularly indulges in lake swims. They’re all surprised by how brightly the stars blaze over the lake (nearby Mount Kobau is the site of stargazing parties). Sandwiched between the rugged desert terrain and dazzling night sky, this home feels like a completely different world — no passport required.

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“This savoury Dutch baby, which resembles a lox bagel and its companions, is delicious and decadent — and lovely next to a lightly dressed arugula salad.” — Rebecca Wellman

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