The key elements of air, fire, wood, water and metal are combined cohesively in this peaceful and relaxing 889 square foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo located in Harvest Hills. “My home is my sanctuary”, explains Dana Johnston, 36.

Having friends who lived in apartments, she saw the pros and cons of that style of accommodation. Renting either the upper or lower floors of houses in North Burnaby, B.C., where she had lived and worked since 1997, Dana was unsure about renting an apartment once she arrived in Calgary and she was fortunate to live with family while searching for a new home. “I only focused on the North West when I moved here from Vancouver. The only areas I knew were downtown and the North West because family and friends lived there. My relatives told me that I should take a year to rent and orient myself to Calgary before buying; that I should look around. The way the market’s been going, I’d have less choice and it would have been more costly had I waited.”

“I shopped for condos in December 2004. I found a place in four to five weeks, after looking at about twenty places. My realtor was very patient with me! I knew I wanted this one when I saw the open concept and the windows around the fireplace.” Dana continues: “I hardly turn up the heat in the winter because I use my gas burning fireplace a lot. I just flick a switch.” Light, warmth and fire! “It’s so cozy!”

Accessibility to Deerfoot Trail and the airport became an important consideration when choosing her home. Traveling for business and pleasure, plus visiting Edmonton and Vancouver “any chance I can get” is part and parcel of Dana’s lifestyle. Originally from the Edmonton area, Dana regularly visits friends and family two and a half hours north, and takes weekend trips to visit her friends, eat sushi and take a stroll along the seawall in Vancouver.

Work is also very important to Dana. She is Platform Specialist and Customer Service Manager for ATB Investor Services. “I work downtown. I didn’t want noise pollution or hear sirens when I am home,” so she chose to live in the suburbs. 

“I like my windows open.” Living on the second floor in the approximately forty five suite three storey building, Dana can leave her patio door open, as well, pulling across the hidden screen, allowing air flow into her condo.

Four dark brown leather Parson’s chairs surround her circular glass dining table. Metal was the material of choice of support for this glass table. “Wood was just too heavy for this space,” Dana clarifies.  In the corner is her “little martini bar”, holding a few bottles of wine and a stainless steel martini set. With its glass top and scalloped edge, the bar coordinates with the table’s very pleasing esthetic. “It is more decorative than most glass topped tables,” says Dana.

Wood is evident in a variety of Dana’s living spaces: coffee table and end table in the living room (with Dana’s “piece de résistance”: her chocolate brown Natuzzi leather couch), and in the dining area, a retro cabinet displaying a crystal collection.  A calming fountain, located on a wooden shelving unit in the open plan living space brings yet another element of Feng Shui to Dana’s home: water.

When Dana took possession of the condo in March 2005, the living room and dining room walls were a pinky taupe. She and a friend painted a beige tone on the walls, using a Benjamin Moore palette. Dana used the suggested harmonizing colours, including Polar Jade, to create horizontal striping to unite the open living spaces. “We spent Easter Weekend – three days straight – taping and painting the five stripes around the room. It took nine hours just to tape the walls!” Dana then replaced the white carpet with hardwood flooring.  She wondered about art for the walls after the chic stripes were up on the walls. When her father came to visit, his comment was: “The stripes are your art.” Dana has tastefully placed framed photos of family and dear friends around the dining area and living room, complementing the décor effectively.

Bright neon yellow spackled walls greeted her in the master bedroom. Not fond of these bright colours, she transformed her bedroom into a calm area, including a window seat. A good friend, handy with a sewing machine, needle and thread, made the cushion for the window seat, the bed skirt and throw pillows. “We saw some material on sale with the exact tones of the two colours” on the walls. One wall in her bedroom features Polar Jade once again, with a minty tone on the remaining three walls.

An open walk through closet brings her past the linen closet and into her bathroom. “These are two of the three areas still unpainted” since she bought her condo. The third space is the main bathroom. Dana is still thinking about how to decorate these spaces, with the exception of hardware in the main bathroom: wrought iron lizards for handles on the cabinetry and toilet paper holder, plus a leafed wrought iron light over the mirror. The elephant towel hook, which Dana found in Vancouver, complements the existing hardware.

“I really enjoyed putting it all together this last year: the coordinating, the shopping, the painting, and the journey of designing. I would gladly buy a different place and do it all over again!” Dana says proudly.

Dana has created a very fine Feng Shui living space and balances her life with friends, family and work very harmoniously. Everything is in its place….and Dana is in her’s!