Battistella Developments raises the bar for architectural design in the Calgary condo market

Battistella Developments' condo highrises are marked by explosive colour and sharp artistry, boldly standing in several trendy neighbourhoods across Calgary's urban core.

Their names – and striking architecture – have become iconic: Orange, Chocolate, Chartreuce, Brunette, Ink, Pixel and Colours.

The goal is to bring something unique to the market, "every single time," said Chris Pollen, Battistella's director of sales and marketing.

Five ways to decorate your home for spring

There's a reason we get a little spring in our step come March. After a long, dreary, cold winter, the days are getting longer and sunnier, giving us a glimpse of warm days to come.

Not only does this make us shed the heavy layers of our wardrobe, but it also inspires us to lighten up our decor at home.

"I think a lot of us get an itch toward the end of a long dark winter to see some colour and life," said Tracy Wharton, owner and principal designer of Dovecote Design Studio in Calgary.

How the right hue can change our moods 

With so many choices in paint colours, the hunt for the perfect hue can be a daunting task. And who could blame you? Most stores feature sample walls that have every colour under the sun – on one-inch-by-one-inch paint chips, to boot.

How do you convince yourself you're selecting the perfect colour? How do you commit to that one-inch teaser of colour for the next five years?

For myself, I always try to start with a hue I can build on. Then I bring more colours together on everything from trims and casings to carpets, linens or draperies.