Western Living Magazine
2026 Kitchen Design Tip #5: Make a Modern Kitchen Feel Original With Traditional Materials
2026 Kitchen Design Tip #4: Use Bulkheads to Cleverly Disguise Plumbing Systems
2026 Kitchen Design Tip #3: Embrace the U-Shaped Island for Entertaining
Recipe: Hopcott Farms Beef Short Ribs with Black Pepper and Sweet Soy (Sườn Bò Nướng)
Recipe: Gai Lan, Ginger and Anh and Chi’s Chilli Oil (Rau Xào Sả Ớt)
5 Scone and Biscuit Recipes to Try This Week
Tofino’s Floating Sauna Turned Me Into a Sauna Person
A Wellness Getaway in Squamish Valley: Off-Grid Yurts, Sauna Cycles and River Calm
Local Getaway Guide: A Peaceful Two-Day Itinerary for Harrison Hot Springs
Protected: Audi Elevates the Compact Luxury SUV
New and Noteworthy: 10 Fresh Home Design Finds for Winter 2026
The Best Home Accessories Our Editors Bought in 2025
Photos: The Western Living Design 25 Finalists Party
2025 Architects of the Year MA+HG On Their Favourite Things
Maker of the Year Winner Andrea Copp’s Local Favourites
Create a Euro-cool look for your mantel with a visual trick.
“We wanted to create a statement piece,” says designer Amanda Hamilton of the stunning marble slab that tops the fireplace of this sophisticated Calgary living room. It stands out in part because of the beauty of the material, but Hamilton also employed a colour trick to give it an extra pop: the walls around it are painted black to create a striking contrast. And below, the fireplace itself is clad in black metal so the whole thing disappears when the fire’s not lit. “Suddenly, you’ve created a seamless look,” says Hamilton.
Designed by Amanda Hamilton and architect Dustin Couzens
Designer, Amanda Hamilton, Calgary, amandahamiltondesign.com. Architect, MoDA, Dustin Couzens, Calgary, moda-architecture.ca. Benjamin Moore Onyx paint, Pacific Paint and Wallpaper, Victoria, benmoorepaints.com; Coast Decorating Center, Vancouver, coastpaint.com. Statuario marble, Jade Stone, Calgary and Edmonton, jadestone.ca. Montigo fireplace, 4 Seasons Electrical Mechanical, Victoria, 4seasonsvictoria.com; Fireplaces Unlimited, Burnaby, fireplacesunlimited.ca; Hearth Fireplaces Distributors, Calgary, hearthfireplacedepot.com; Fireplace Gallery, Edmonton, fireplacegallery.com. Custom vegan leather Alison sofa, Alison table, Camerich, Domicile Contract, 403-262-9780, domicilecontract.com. Linden pillows, Brenner pillows, nowl, Crate and Barrel, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, crateandbarrel.ca. Ligne Roset Balaa side table, Ligne Roset Bul lamp, Ligne Roset Moel chairs, Ligne Roset Soft and Doux rug, Ligne Roset Trinitas floor lamp, Livingspace, Vancouver, livingspace.com; Le Belle Arti, Calgary, lebellearti.com; Dwell Modern, Edmonton, dwellmodern.ca. Vase, glass terrariums, Wild About Flowers, Calgary, wildaboutflowerscalgary.com. Jonathan Adler Peace Hand sculpture, Jonathan Adler, Chintz and Co., Victoria, chintz.com; Mint Interiors, Vancouver, mintinteriors.ca; Kit, Calgary, kitinteriorobjects.com; The Artworks, Edmonton, theartworks.ca. White Lacquer tray, West Elm, Vancouver and Calgary, westelm.ca. Roost wish bone, Bernstein and Gold, Victoria, bernsteinandgold.com; Provide, Vancouver, providehome.com; Steeling Home, Calgary, steelinghome.ca. Cashmere throw, Restoration Hardware, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, restorationhardware.com.
Stacey is a senior editor at Western Living magazine, as well as editor-in-chief of sister publication Vancouver magazine. She loves window shopping on the job: send your home accessories and furniture recommendations over to [email protected]
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