BCAA

SUMMER 2017 BCA A .COM 25 NOUVEAU CANADIANA Create a hip, vintage-inspired look by adding one of these modern Canadian treasures to your living space: Painterly pillows. Punch up an understated sofa with nature scenes recalling the aesthetic of Canada's celebrated Group of Seven artists. Real Canadian Superstore, $20 Decorative canoe paddle. Embellish a blank wall with this painted canoe paddle made of Northern Ontario cherry wood. Hang it horizontally for maximum impact, or go vertical if you're short on space. Indigo, $385 Classic Bay blanket. The signature stripes of the 100 per cent wool Point blanket are an instant reminder of our country's heritage. For easy, iconic style, drape this heirloom- worthy blanket over the back of a leather chair or at the foot of the bed. Hudson's Bay, $325–$550 Funky felt pennant. Show off your provincial pride by pinning this vintage-style BC pennant on a wall or bulletin board. McMichael Gallery Shop, $18 Log bowl. Display these decorative bowls, handmade from reclaimed wood, on a sleek coffee table for a cool hit of modern Canadiana. Loyal Loot Collective, $75–$250 –Janet Gyenes MEMBERS SAVE BCAA Members save up to 20% on Home Insurance and enjoy exclusive benefits, like a $200 deductible, one-claim forgiveness and access to Premier packages, which offer enhanced coverage. bcaa.com/homeinsurance Studio & Gallery, in Prince Rupert, describes how one clever collector made a coffee table from an old brass porthole. The glass top became a "window" under which he placed old glass fishing floats – another collectible – that had washed up on shore. "Anything that has a Prince Rupert or West Coast connection is really popular," says Riley. Like Haida artwork from the 1970s, and anything nautical. "If there's that extra little detail, that little story – that gets people excited." Artifacts from the area's former fish canneries have contributed to the craze, with collectibles such as wooden boxes once used for storing fish roe in high demand. "They have Japanese characters on them," says Riley. "Use them as a little tray or put them on a shelf on the wall." Glass canning jars with Canadian brand names such as Gem or Improved Crown are also much loved and pressed into service in kitchens for storing dried foodstuffs. Mixing with the modern "There's a comfort in something reclaimed or old," says Debbie Evans, of Debbie Evans Interior Design in Squamish and West Vancouver. She says she has noticed a departure from ultra-modern, sterile spaces of late, and suggests adding dashes of inspired Canadiana to warm up a chilly room. Pillows in red-and-black lumberjack plaid or a Hudson's Bay Point blanket with its signature stripes would pop on a grey couch. Or highlight a single showpiece, like a "live edge" dining table, with the bark still showing, paired with ultra-modern chairs. "You can mix and match; you just have to be confident to do it," says Evans. And those stubbies or silver spoons you can't part with? Make them precious, says Evans. Put them in a wall niche, or frame them in a shadow box behind glass. And follow English's advice when it comes to deciding what "Canadiana" means for you: "There are no rules. Write your own story." ■

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