Meet the designers behind Millennium Water’s Avenues of the World


Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Claudia Kwan
Sun

CHIL Design Group CHIL Design Group has worked on some high-profi le projects in Vancouver, including the opulent Shangri-La and Fairmont Pacifi c Rim hotels. Now it’s setting its sights on enticing buyers to sign on the dotted line with its interplay of texture and use of natural light at Millennium Water, where its show suite at 702 — 1633 Ontario Street has a “ Global Living” theme. The building is a product of Merrick Architecture Borowski Lintott Sakumoto Fligg Ltd. The dark blue walls and brown tones evoke the water and earth outside, with the stunning views highlighted by low-slung glass furniture. Nature has a strong, but subtle presence with fl ower pillows on a bed and sunshine yellow accents. The décor encompasses both high end and bargain brands.

Alda Pereira has put her distinctive design touch on many of the condo buildings in Vancouver, incorporating natural materials and light whenever possible. She’s so beloved by developers, there’s even a building named after her at 1275 Hamilton St. The theme of the Alda Pereira show suite, located at 502 — 118 Athletes Way, is “ Gold, Gold, Gold.” The colour makes a splash as gold foil filling the Lucite coffee table, and metallic wallpaper on the walls of the master bedroom, right down to the shiny cutlery on the dining table. Playful textures in the suite include cork stools, a brocade sofa embroidered with birds, and bathroom towels monogrammed with ADP in gold. This suite is located in a building designed by the Merrick Architecture group. PHOTOS: STEVE BOSCH/ PNG

BYU Design stands for Bob’s Your Uncle, something Ada Bonini and her business partner Cheryl Broadhead thought would accurately convey their sure-footed approach to the business of design. The team works on both residential and commercial spaces around the Lower Mainland. The theme of the BYU suite at Millennium Water, located at 711-1633 Ontario St., is “Green and Sustainable.” In spite of the name, green is not the predominant colour, but is expressed in the materials used. Aluminum is prominent throughout the décor, as it’s recyclable, and wood elements are Forest Stewardship Council-certified. Cardboard makes an appearance in Frank Gehry-designed living room stools. This suite is also in a building designed by the Merrick Architecture firm. JENELLE SCHNEIDER/ PNG

The Cross Decor & Design. Lead disigner Peter Wilds of The Cross Decor and Design clearly has no problem having fun with design. Fur and feathers enter the mix, too, at the posh Yaletown shop, which offers everything from furniture and lighting to jewelry and baby onesies. The Cross took the theme “Frech Provencal” for its show suite at 404-12 Athletes Way in a building designed by the Merrick architectural group. A den has cheeky wallpaper designed to look like books on shelves, while the guest bedroom has horizontally painter stripes of geey and white. A huge sparkling chandelier dominates the living space, over the dining table and chairs with a classic silhouette, modernized by crisp black and white striped fabric. No shabby chic here; cream-painted wood furniture and a wall mirror are as clean as the come. STEVE BOSCH PNG

Owner Nancy Bendtsen is known for stocking cleanly contemporary, modern furniture and accessories in her Gastown storefront. Her theme in the two-bedroom Millennium Water show suite located at 701-1633 Ontario St. is “ 100 Mile House,” with most of the interior design elements being sourced from within that geographical radius. Solus Concrete built an outdoor fire pit to warm up a cool spring evening, and Prince George designer Shawn Place crafted a solid oak rocking chair. Jonathan Cruz photos are featured throughout the suite, and the lighting comes from local designers Omer Arbel of Bocci and Molo Design. This suite is in a Merrick Architecture-designed building.

Principal Merike Lainevool of Kodu Design puts a ton of thought into every aspect of her designs. At Millennium Water, she’s clearly having fun with the show suite at 709 – 1633 Ontario Street, which has the theme “Canadian Olympian.” The room is white with bright splashes or red. An overhead projector beams words of inspiration. A lucky Canadian dollar is tucked underneath the glass dining tabletop, bull’s-eye targets are hung in the bathroom and trophy cups line an entire wall in one bedroom. Go, Canada, Go. The Merrick Architecture group was responsible for the building design. PHOTS: JENELLE SCHNEIDER PNG

Robert Ledingham of Ledingham Design has been on the Vancouver scene for decades. the Ledingham show suite, located at 304 – 151 Athletes Way, has a theme called “Asian Influence.” The show suite is housed in a building designed by Arthur Erickson Architectural Corp., with Nick Milkovich Architect and Lawrence Doyle Architects. Dark wood furniture has clean straight lines, with a nod to traditional Asian design in the circular handles. Hits of red and orange and burgundy pop against creams and tans, while the built in white fabric banquette in the dining room will no doubt be a popular lounging spot. PHOTOS: STEVE BOSCH PNG

The William Switzer company specializes in reproductions of antique furniture in a range or eras and styles. The theme of the show home located at 505 – 1616 Columbia in a Merrick Architecture group building, is “Perfect Parisian.” PHOTOS BY STEVE BOSCH/ PNG

Meet the designers behind Millennium Water’s Avenues of the World — and their spectacular living spaces As part of an extensive marketing push for the homes at the Millennium Water development — the former Olympic Athletes’ Village in Southeast False Creek — members of the public are being invited to tour nine show suites decorated by top Vancouver interior designers.

Perhaps the word “enticed” is more accurate, since people are being advised to pick up a “passport” at the sales office for the campaign, dubbed “ Avenues of the World.” By visiting at least eight of the nine show suites and collecting a stamp from each documenting the visit, they will become eligible to win a $20,000 grand prize.

That prize is made up of four parts: a $5,000 gift certificate to Inform Interiors in Gastown; $5,000 for the Cross Décor and Design in Yaletown; $5,000 for the services of William Switzer, a maker of reproduction antique furniture; and $5,000 in consultation services for any of the other interior designers involved in creating the show suites. Ten second-prize winners will each receive an Electra bicycle with an estimated value of $ 700.

The nine show suites represent the diversity of what’s on offer at the 1,108-unit Millennium Water community.

“We’ve got a very simple, sustainable design, right up to hyper-luxury on the water,” noted marketer Bob Rennie. “And then, in between, we’re having fun with a suite that’s done all in gold by Alda Pereira.”

Avenues of the World is open noon to 5 p. m. every day but Friday. For information, call 603-733-2010.

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