Sun
Environmental sensitivities and a modernist esthetic demonstrated by the dominating presence of Machine Age materials are among the parts of the “hippest address” whole in the DoMain presentation centre (above) and, eventually, homes.
1. Cork flooring, a first for a multi-family residential project in Vancouver (until someone comes along and says otherwise), will be installed in entries, living and dining spaces and kitchens.
Cork flooring enjoys an environmentally friendly reputation because it is manufactured from a renewable resource and, further, the harvest of the resource inflicts minimal consequences on the environment.
Additionally, cork flooring is a poor conductor of temperature, sound and vibration, an important attribute in a finishing material in a home overlooking a busy intersection.
“It acts as an insulator against the city outside your doors, and it looks fabulous,” Merike Lainevool, the DoMain interior designer, comments.
If currency is a primary attribute of hip, then cork is the hip flooring of the month.
May’s House and Garden magazine offers this praise for cork flooring, from a Boston chef and restaurant owner: “A cork floor is softer than tile, so it’s nice to stand on all day. It feels much warmer underfoot and helps keep the noise level down.”
“Green Label” wool carpet from New Zealand will be installed in the bedrooms. “The carpets are loopy and funky, and they are custom made for DoMain” Merike reports.
2. The Whirlpool stainless-steel appliance package.
3. The stainless-steel counter and backsplash, an upgrade. An engineered stone countertop and ceramic tile backsplash are standard.
“It’s a favourite of chefs and great cooks everywhere,” sales campaign organizer Patricia Glass says of the stainless over counters and backsplashes. “You can spread out across all 111/2 feet of counter, the length in the unit type in the presentation centre, and then just wash it all down with dishwashing soap and a stainless-steel shine.”
4. The cabinetry, in “a fresh, ‘modernist’ white” or “a blissfully dark taupe,” in the words of Glass, with lower cabinets in red under uppers in white or lower cabinets in “European-inspired light green” under uppers in taupe” combinations available to buyers “who want to amplify the vibrancy” of their kitchens.
5. The long dining table designed by Lainevool and built by Radius Woodworking. Its plywood construction permits an uninterrupted span of eight feet, more than enough to seat eight people for dinner (and to dispel any apprehension that a small home unduly restricts its owners’ entertaining opportunities).
“Merike was inspired by the laminated-plywood furniture-pieces she sees every year at the Eastside Culture Crawl,” Patricia reports. “In addition to loving the look, she was in awe of the strength of the material.”
6. The plastic side chairs, from Verner Panton (1926-1998), a design innovator and leader in the 1960s and ’70s.
7. The modular couch from Upholstery Arts. “We selected from UA’s standard components, to create a piece to fit our display space,” Patricia comments. “The same could be done to achieve this custom look in any of the DoMain units, either in the living areas or in the flex spaces.”
8. Lighting over the table as generous as the table is long.The three Maxilite pendants Merike selected for the display are enclosed in shades of white linen.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006