Home Again

One of my favourite parts of selecting homes for our Renovations Issue is the before and after photos. Some of the most satisfying renos are those where you can still catch the spirit of the original home: a parquet floor re-imagined as a basket-weave cement tile, as in Brianna Hughes’s family-friendly design (“Party of Five,” page 45); or the fir beams, refinished to bring back their beauty, in Herschel Supply Co. founder Lyndon Cormack’s North Shore home (“Let in the Light,” page 26). It’s fitting that we’ve chosen this issue to launch a bit of our own renovation in the pages of this magazine—not so dramatic that you won’t recognize us, but significant enough that we could possibly make a TikTok before and after video. (I mean, at least I think we could: like most Gen Xers, I get my TikToks two weeks later on Instagram.) The biggest change is right on our cover. After almost a decade with our initials-only “WL,” we’re launching a new logo. Western Living is a celebration of Western Canada, and what it means to live your best life here. So we decided it was time to reflect that mandate with a return to our original name, albeit with a fresh look and feel. Creative director Jenny Reed tested more than 100 typefaces before she landed on the one we’re launching with this issue—modern, but warm and inviting. And you’ll see a few updates within the magazine, too. We’ve expanded our Entertaining section—with even more inspiration from our recipe developers (Lawren Moneta’s spectacular brunch dishes will soon be in rotation in my kitchen—especially her deceptively simple avocado “hollandaise”) along with a few from Western Canadian chefs. (To wit: this issue we’re featuring plant-forward plates from Butter Baked Goods’ Rosie Daykin.) Of course, we’ll still be your go-to source for great design. We head to the best design shows around the world to source trends and more (you’ll discover what’s new in kitchens and baths from KBIS this issue on page 24, with furniture finds from Milan’s Salone del Mobile in the next). But we’re also lucky to live in a place that’s home to some of the most talented designers in the country—many with a global reputation. And it’s our honour to shine a spotlight on those talented individuals who make our part of the world a beautiful place to call home. As Lyndon Cormack notes about his own home in this issue, “a little patina is important.” Our renovation process has kept that patina of a life well lived—and I think you’ll recognize the spirit of our home, this magazine, in the pages that follow. But we’re thrilled to be making space for even more of the best of the West with this fresh new look through the months to come.