Jen Nickel

What happens when a heating system becomes a piece of architecture, a functional work of art and the natural gathering place of a home? I recently had the opportunity to visit the Guelph studio of Stone House Kachelöfen, where ceramic artist and Kachelofen builder Jessica Steinhäuser is preserving — and creatively reimagining — a centuries-old European tradition: the Kachelöfen. I first met Jessica and learned about the art and science of the Kachelöfen in the spring with she presented at...

Transforming a Mid-Century Bungalow Basement with Sustainable, Period-Inspired Design Every home has a story, and this mid-century bungalow has been telling its own for more than half a century. When our clients approached us to redesign their basement, they expressed a clear desire: to honour the original character of the home while using a sustainable approach in creating a refreshed, comfortable, and highly functional lower level for modern living. This became the foundation of every...

The word LINOLEUM often conjures images of grandma’s 1950s kitchen floors - a relic of the past. It’s a word that has been largely misunderstood, most often being confused with vinyl. But unlike vinyl - which is made of petroleum-based plastics and toxic ingredients - natural linoleum is made from simple, plant- and mineral-based ingredients: linseed oil, limestone, wood flour, jute, and natural pigments. This blend makes it not only eco-friendly, but also healthier, durable, and...