Kim Pemberton
Sun
As soon as you walk into the high-ceiling lobby of the Four Seasons Private Residences in Whistler your eyes are drawn to the sleek leather couches, massive stone fireplace and the golden hues of this luxurious space and you can’t help but wonder “can a millionaire’s life really be this perfect?”
For 24 hours my daughters and I were able to live like millionaires in our 2,800-square-foot “hotel chic” Four Seasons suite, featuring dark glossy wood floors, bold accessories by Vancouver artist Martha Sturdy and leather and velvet furnishings in a sophisticated palette of chocolate browns and gold.
This space had everything one would expect to find in an ultra-deluxe setting for the very rich. Most noticeably the great mountain view from the oversized glass windows or from the large balcony with its own heated outdoor dining space.
While I was enjoying the view my kids were jumping for joy after discovering large-screen plasma televisions were featured in all three bedrooms with one more in the open concept living/dining area. No more arguing about who gets to watch what show — at one point we all ended up in separate rooms.
With so much space and many amenities it must be hard for millionaires to share family togetherness.
Or maybe it was just us. Our real life is forced togetherness in a small East Vancouver home, but this was different than anything we had ever known. Here we could spread out — and spread out we did.
My eldest claimed the master suite with the steam shower, while the youngest opted for the second master suite with its fireplace directly in front of a King sized bed, made up with Italian linens and a cloud-like comforter.
Myself, I liked the feel of the thick carpet under my feet in the living room, and melting into the plush velvet couch to read one of the many magazines and art books on hand. Oh, did I forget to mention beside the softly crackling fireplace?
This was my favourite spot.
So, the object of the evening was to live like millionaires in our home away from home. Tough assignment. Yes, I could order room service, but that night I preferred to try out my culinary skills on the top-of-the-line gas range and make use of the many Miele appliances, from the built-in coffee maker to sub-zero, under-counter wine fridge. Yes, I made a point of trying them all, except the dishwasher. I saved that for housekeeping. Afterall, I figured a millionaire might enjoy cooking but who likes cleaning up?
It also seems millionaires don’t like pulling down their own bed covers. I was surprised when a staff member popped in after dark to set a calming scene in each of the bedrooms, turning down our bedding, setting the lights down low and turning on soft music. Then she was gone.
The great thing about this hotel/condo lifestyle is staff is available when you need them and leave you to enjoy your private retreat when you don’t. The next day we did have the opportunity to use the 24-hour concierge service. Seems the Four Seasons also has a separate “teen concierge” who invited my daughters to call on her to learn what was worth doing for the youth in town — not that anyone of us were in a hurry to leave the Private Residences.
The kids were content to swim in the outdoor heated pool and make use of the two private outdoor jacuzzis, dashing from one outdoor delight to the next, in their Four Seasons supplied terry plush robes and slippers.
And while I did enjoy the Private Residence’s fitness centre I decided to check out the hotel spa, where I noticed one slight difference. The hotel had an Eucalyptus steam shower which I preferred over the straight steam shower in the Private Residences. It’s a small point but at least I have something to suggest on my guest satisfaction survey.
Afterall, a millionaires life can’t be perfect? But it sure comes close.
Now that I’ve returned to reality I wonder if some aspect of this pampered life be duplicated in our still beloved but definitely less luxurious home?
For the answer I turn to Four Seasons senior vice-president of design of construction John MacKinnon, who believes luxury hotels have many features that can easily be incorporate into homes enjoyed by the rest of us.
One good idea, he suggests, is to install radiant floor heating in the bathroom – a luxury that isn’t necessarily that expensive given the small space of most bathrooms.
“One of the most luxurious things you can do is to put your feet on a warm marble floor. Even putting in stone floors in a bathroom is a nice touch,” says MacKinnon.
But the the most important lesson homeowners can learn from hotel residences, he says, is ensuring their own spaces flow correctly.
“We think about how a guest uses the spaces. You come in the front door. Where do you hang your coat? In the living room can I get enough seating? There’s minimal dimensions and then there’s comfortable dimensions. Get the space correct so you don’t have to move furniture out of the way.”
The goal of any living space, he says, is to “make sure it’s comfortable living.”
And with that I ponder the do-ability of heated floors in my closet-sized bathroom at home. Afterall, who doesn’t want to live like a millionare?
© The Vancouver Sun 2006