SPRUCE magazine - Summer 2019

VICTORIA’S HOME & D E S I G N MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2019

INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS sprucemagazine.ca PM41295544

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IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURED HOMES

SUMMER 2019

THREE SPECTACULAR WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

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■ MODERN CUSTOM BUILD

■ BEACH HOUSE RENO

■ COTTAGE CONVERSION

LUXURY ON THE OCEAN

SEASIDE STYLE

A DWELLING

BY THE SHORE

The flow of water inspires the design and layout of this elegant custom-built home overlooking Haro Strait.

A coastal recreational property is transformed into a sophisticated beach house with all the amenities.

B Y DAVID LENNAM

Nestled on the Gorge Waterway, this renovated 1913 cottage still functions beautifully as a beachside oasis.

B Y NESSA PULLMAN

B Y DANIELLE POPE

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MADE TO LAST

What building materials are the best choice for your project? Spruce explores the options.

B Y DANIELLE POPE

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SUMMER 2019

ON THE COVER Luxurious natural materials feature prominently in this custom-built home overlooking Haro Strait. Page 32

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This backyard goes from ho-hum to stand out, becoming an inviting outdoor living space.

A Colwood couple explores the possibilities with a custom-built garden suite.

B Y ERIN McINTOSH

B Y ALEX VAN TOL

ROOM FOR OUTDOOR LIVING

THE GARDEN SUITE LIFE

New Showroom WWW.INCREDIBLEHOME.CA

CLOSETS • KITCHENS

ASK / DUSTIN

IN THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS

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EDITOR’S LETTER

B Y ATHENA McKENZIE

A REALTOR® tailored for you.

778-678-9815 VictoriaMarket.ca

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S PRUCE IT UP

Design-forward finds to augment your outdoor living.

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DESIGN INSPIRATION

Decorate with colour — interior design trends embrace bold hues.

B Y BEN BRANNEN

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ASK THE EXPERT

Go beyond the surface with Victoria designer Antonieta D’Introno, who shares her design insights.

B Y ATHENA McKENZIE

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DETAILS

The new dream kitchen embodies outdoor living at its best.

B Y ATHENA McKENZIE

66

REAL ESTATE

The insiders’ guide to property investment.

B Y SHANNON MONEO

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FINISHING TOUCH

With its sweeping views over the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this infinity pool exemplifies coastal elegance.

74 Dustin Miller, Managing Broker 8X Ventures Inc.

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V I C TO R I A’ S H O M E & D E S I G N M AG A Z I N E

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos, Georgina Camilleri EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kerry Slavens EDITOR Athena McKenzie PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Kühtz SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Amanda Wilson LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jo-Ann Loro

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Rebecca Juetten

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Belle White

PROOFREADER Paula Marchese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Brannen, David Lennam,

Erin McIntosh, Shannon Moneo, Danielle Pope, Nessa Pullman, Alex Van Tol

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dean Azim, Jeffrey Bosdet,

Joshua Lawrence

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images p. 20, 66

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Deana Brown, Sharon Davies,

Denise Grant, Cynthia Hanischuk, Nicole Mackie

GENERAL INQUIRIES info@sprucemagazine.ca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@sprucemagazine.ca

TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPRUCE subscriptions@sprucemagazine.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES sales@sprucemagazine.ca ONLINE sprucemagazine.ca INSTAGRAM @sprucemagazinevictoria FACEBOOK sprucevictoria

TWITTER @sprucevictoria

COVER: Luxurious natural materials feature

prominently in this custom-built home.

Photo by Joshua Lawrence

Spruce magazine is published by Page One Publishing 580 Ardersier Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1C7 T 250-595-7243 info@pageonepublishing.ca pageonepublishing.ca

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SUMMER 2019

9

EDITOR’S LETTER

The Great Outdoors

I During the sale of your home anything can happen; most things that do are unexpected or overlooked. Whether the former or the latter, it’s the way it is handled that predicts the outcome.

Richard’s demeanour, professional experience, strong communication skills, and attitude are a winning combo built on a foundation that can handle any challenge.

- LARISSA K., CLIENT

RICHARD ACOMBA M. Ed. RE/MAX Camosun

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SUMMER 2019

Athena McKenzie, Editor

t’s an understatement to say that people in Victoria are spoiled when it comes to outdoor lifestyle. (How many of you are guilty of posting blossom photos in February?)

This temperate climate means open-air living is a year-round luxury — from cooking al fresco in an outdoor kitchen, to lounging around an oceanside fire pit, to soaking in a hot tub looking up at the stars.

If there’s one recent home trend that I fully champion, it’s the shift to having less distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces. If designed correctly, your outdoor area — no matter its size — should be an inviting refuge and serve as additional living space for your home.

Which is to say, all the “summery” ideas in this issue are meant to spark inspiration for right now and throughout the seasons to come.

Researching these stories has given me aspirations for my own outdoor space, and I plan to bring some big style to my downtown balcony.

Inspired by nature, Zuo Canada’s Hyde Chair features a striking leaf pattern in punched metal. It comes in several colours and I think the gold would bring an elegant touch to my outdoor living room.

Textiles are the perfect way to bring that indoor feeling outside, and this Surya Alfresco rug will add a pop of colour and help define the seating area — of course, nothing adds lounge appeal like throw pillows, such as the Surya Arie pillow.

Finally, I need a stylish planter for the herbs I hope to grow. The Modernica Case Study Ceramics Large Bowl has a sculptural appeal, and I like the simple lines of its Brazilian walnut wood and powder-coated steel stand.

Whether your summer sees you embark on landscaping, a home renovation or breaking ground on your custom home build, get inspired by the projects and homeowners in this issue, and remember to post those outdoor project photos when you’re still enjoying it long into the winter — it is one of the perks of this West Coast life.

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Take it Outside

DESIGN-FORWARD FINDS TO AUGMENT YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING.

HANGING OUT

Love the soothing rock of a hammock? Hanging Zomes are the luxury upgrade.

Designed by KODAMA, their shape and movement are inspired by dynamic motion and natural geometry.

Unlike hammocks or swings, the zomes hang from a single overhead point, creating smooth, gentle, unrestricted motion.

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SUMMER 2019

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INSTANT AMBIANCE

Music and glowing lights bring a lot to a party. The UMA Sound Lantern, a portable light-speaker hybrid from Pablo, sets the perfect atmosphere for your backyard or patio. The sculptural fixture boasts a leather strap for carrying, LED technology, a wireless speaker to create 360 degrees of light and sound, touch-sensitive volume control, Bluetooth connection and a light control dial. Consider it the modern equivalent of a campfire with built-in stereo.

Available through Gabriel Ross

2

PRIVACY PLEASE

Add privacy and a touch of style to your outdoor living spaces with a detailed screen from Islandbased Core Landscape Products.

These repeat-patterned privacy screens add beauty to your home, garden or deck. Best of all, they are easy to install and require minimal maintenance. The range includes art deco inspired looks, along with designs by Coast Salish artist Noel Brown of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Or get a custom screen made in the pattern of your choice.

Available through coreglow.ca

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TAKE A SEAT

Locally designed and produced, Dodeka’s contemporary outdoor furniture can be customized with their vast range of high-quality fabrics and exclusive frame colours.

The Fugue seating collection, which includes this loveseat, melds geometric lines, luxuriant comfort and robust outdoor materials. Dodeka’s heated-seat option is the world’s first and only integration of outdoor furniture and heated seat cushions.

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SOAK IT UP

Soaking in an outdoor hot tub is something to be enjoyed year round on the West Coast and makes a luxurious addition to your home. There is the risk that it can look utilitarian if it’s not integrated with careful planning. Using stonework — as shown with this customcast concrete hot tub project in Metchosin — is one way to incorporate your hot tub into the rest of your landscaping.

Project shown by CA Pools

Available through Design District Access

SUMMER 2019

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Solid Design STYLISH AND DURABLE, SCULPTURAL CONCRETE CONTAINERS CAN MAKE FOR PERFECT ACCENTS IN YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE

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andscaping trends show the growing popularity of container gardening, and planters are evolving to be more than simple vessels — these objects can provide an artistic touch to your garden.

Cast concrete containers are in demand, especially on the West Coast. The material is popular for its durability in all climates, as well as the muted, natural palette it can bring to a garden or patio.

Victoria-based Landscape Furnishings create three types of striking pots and planters — conventional precast concrete, ornamental hand cast and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). Each brings different characteristics and advantages.

The conventional precast concrete containers utilize local materials and state-of-the-art admixtures for durable freeze and thaw-resistant products with a quality finish.

Using concrete or UHPC means you can have sophisticated shapes in a weather-resistant, freeze-proof material for use throughout your garden or on your patio.

The containers from Landscape Furnishings come in a minimalistic palette of white, grey or charcoal, and in sandblast or precast finishes.

LO C A L LY H A N D C R A F T E D D E S I G N E R K I TC H E N S

B U I LT F O R L I F E

The hand-cast/hand-finished series offers unique, sculptural containers. The production technique is reminiscent of Venetian plaster and traditional ceramic processes.

The minimalistic and durable UHPC containers are especially suited for rooftop decks, where planters can be exposed to strong winds and weather conditions, but also need to be light enough to move into place.

Available through landscapefurnishings.com

DREAM KITCHENS REALLY DO COME TRUE

Custom Jason Good kitchens and bathrooms are built for inspired living. From initial sketch to final installation, we transform design dreams into functional masterpieces.

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Sold COMFORT CLASS

The outdoor version of Roche Bobois’s Mah Jong sofa is as striking and as versatile as its indoor counterpart. The sectional starts with three basic elements that can be combined or stacked, allowing for limitless options of composition — it can be an armchair, sofa, lounge chair or bed; a stylish space in which to socialize, rest and lounge.

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SUMMER 2019

An outdoor cedar sauna is the ideal add-on to a West Coast home. Sooke-based Forest Lumber & Cooperage makes its saunas with kiln-dried, 100-per-cent heartwood Western redcedar. Its horizontally oriented Cedar Barrel sauna comes in a range of sizes and can be equipped with a small porch. The more spaceconscious vertical sauna can also be used indoors without the roof package.

Available through forestlumber.com

ON THE FLIP SIDE

Your garage door may not be the first thing you think of when you’re designing your house, but it can be one of the first things that a guest sees.

The clean lines and simple forms of Clopay’s versatile Canyon Ridge Modern series garage doors blend beautifully with the existing woods and materials on your home’s exterior. Choose from horizontal plank designs, aluminum inlays, and fullview glass options, all with faux-wood finishes that won’t rot, warp or crack.

Customize your garage door with different configurations of wood, glass and metal.

Available locally through Tedford Overhead Doors and Gates

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SUMMER 2019

19

DESIGN INSPIRATION

BY BEN BRANNEN

DECORATE WITH COLOUR DON’T SHY AWAY FROM MAKING A STATEMENT. CURRENT INTERIOR TRENDS EMBRACE BOLD, SATURATED COLOURS AND RICH JEWEL TONES. OUR DESIGN EXPERT SHOWS YOU HOW TO BRING VIVID COLOURS INTO ANY HOME USING PAINT, DÉCOR AND FURNITURE.

Thibaut’s Dynasty wallpapers and fabrics feature bold, luxurious colour palettes of navy, green, fuchsia, red and purple.

T

oday’s interiors are incorporating bold, rich colours which inject the feeling of optimism and youth into a space. While adding colour to your home may seem daunting, by looking to some of my favourite trendsetters for inspiration — and using my design tips — I hope you’ll try adding some vibrant touches to your home.

LOOK TO THE PROS Tricia Guild has been “the colour queen” for decades. At 72, she leads her team of designers and artists at The Designers Guild to heights of artistry every season. Her nature-inspired collection of colourful home accessories includes

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bedding, area rugs and cushions. And her textiles double as colourful artwork. With her experience, creativity and style, she provides a barometer for what a joyous colour-filled home should feel like.

Joa Studholme and her team at Farrow & Ball constantly reinvent the wallcoverings and historic paint colours in their collection to make them relevant and classic for today’s homes.

Studholme’s new book, Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating, illustrates beautifully how to inject bold colours into today’s interiors, whether you have a traditional or contemporary interior space.

High Point Market, the largest furnishings trade show in the world, is the epicentre of

fashion for interior design. This spring’s show presented a bounty of colours for your home, from the Modshop’s Delano sofa in Mendel Green to the luxurious palettes of Thibaut’s Dynasty wallpapers and fabric, featuring navy, green, fuchsia, red and purple. The use of bold colours in upholstery, area rugs and accessories has become a fashionable alternative to the classic neutrals of previous years.

CHOOSING YOUR COLOUR SCHEME For beginners trying on colour in their homes for the first time, I recommend a monochromatic colour scheme (rather than learning the ins and outs of colour theory). A monochromatic scheme

FOR BEGINNERS TRYING ON COLOUR IN THEIR HOMES FOR THE FIRST TIME, I RECOMMEND A MONOCHROMATIC COLOUR SCHEME.

4 easy ways to add soft furnishings that pop Before you begin, ask yourself, What is my favourite colour?

Then, layer it into your décor.

1 Reupholster the seats of your dining room chairs. Great colour choices include bold claret, amethyst or sapphire.

Above: Monochromatic décor palettes, such as this blue colour scheme, are a simple and effective way to bring in bold colour without having to balance tones against each other.

2 Design your living room around a colourful, high-fashion chair.

3 Use a bold, solid colour on an ottoman and punch it with the same colour in cushions.

Right: For a modern look, highlight a saturated wall colour, such as Benjamin Moore Smouldering Red, with trim painted a gloss white.

uses lighter and darker shades of the same colour. It’s a simple and effective way to bring in bold colour without having to balance tones against each other.

Another good beginner technique is to find a textile that has an interesting collection of colours in the design as your jumping-off point. You can then pull out any of these colours and use them throughout the room.

When it comes to home furnishings, be true to yourself. If you love bold hues, you should enjoy a rich jewel-toned sofa for years to come.

On the other hand, if you are trying this trend on for size, I recommend skipping

4 Use vibrant coloured cotton sheets with your neutral duvet cover; fold the top sheet back to show off your pillowcases in the same colour.

FIND A TEXTILE THAT HAS AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF COLOURS IN THE DESIGN AS YOUR JUMPING-OFF POINT the large investment items and jazzing up a neutral sofa with colourful cushions and a throw — you can still get that injection of colour by repeating the same hue on several smaller items.

Consider adding colour to your draperies and blinds, rather than sticking to neutrals.

Patterned drapes with multiple colours are a

great way to change up the feeling in a room over time by highlighting different colours found in the fabric through accessories and new wall paint.

Speaking of walls, don’t shy away from using vivid hues in your home in the form of paint or wallpaper. Contrasting trim is optional. For a more traditional approach, use a crisp off-white trim consistent with other colours in your home.

While bright hues are always a safe choice for a front door or a feature piece of statement furniture, trends today throw the neutral look out the window and embrace vibrant rooms with rich, saturated colour.

It’s time to be bold!

SUMMER 2019

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ASK THE EXPERT

BY ATHENA McKENZIE

BEYOND THE SURFACE

THERE’S MORE TO GOOD INTERIOR DESIGN THAN COLOUR PALETTES AND PRETTY IDEAS.

Victoria designer Antonieta D’Introno shares her design insights, from optimizing your home-project team, to prioritizing your wish list, to how sociology influences the planning of your home’s interior design.

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JEFFREY BOSDET/SRUCE MAGAZINE

ne of Antonieta D’Introno’s earliest memories is being pushed around Europe in a stroller, taking in the stunning cathedrals and piazzas.

“Every year we would go to Spain and Italy and live there the whole summer,” she says of growing up in Venezuela and then Massachusetts with her parents — an American artist and a linguistics professor — and her older brother.

“Art and architecture were just part of our lives. When you go into a space that really has that beautiful combination of history and design, it impacts you on a far deeper level than just noticing a pretty colour.”

While she initially thought she would follow in her brother’s footsteps and study architecture, it was interior design that really captured her imagination. After undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts, she completed a masters at the “WHEN I THINK OF TIMELESS European Institute of Design in Rome.

DESIGN, I THINK WOOD AND It was love that NATURAL MATERIALS, WHICH brought her to the IS WHY I LOVE THE PACIFIC West Coast when friends in Europe NORTHWEST.” introduced her to a man from Vancouver Island.

“When I think of timeless design, I think wood and natural materials, which is why I love the Pacific Northwest,” D’Introno says.

“I love seeing the raw quality of whatever that natural material is.”

Currently, she works with Low Hammond Rowe Architects and runs her own interior design firm, D’Introno Interior Design, which draws on her rich design background to bring a contemporary and collaborative approach to residential projects.

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JOSHUA LAWRENCE

INNOVATION AT WORK

The Carolwood project, a recent collaboration between Antonieta D’Introno and Goodison Construction, involved renovating a mid-1960s property. “It had really interesting exposed beams throughout the house that had been stained or painted, so we refurbished them to be a focal point in the home,” D’Introno says. “It was open-concept, so material use, furniture and lighting were all really important to divide the space and make it feel cozy.”

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The Carolwood property’s updated kitchen, done by Jason Good Custom Cabinets, features quartz countertops, built-in appliances with white lacquered millwork, a hidden pantry and grain-matched walnut millwork. Large porcelain tiles are used throughout the open-concept space, creating visual flow.

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SUMMER 2019

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What makes a good fit in an interior designer?

Compatibility — go with your gut. It’s a little bit like a marriage. You have to work well with the designer and trust the designer. Find someone you can communicate with easily. Also, be willing to be adaptable on the timeline. If there is a designer you want to work with, and they seem like a really good fit, it’s worth waiting for that person.

This also applies to the builder. The relationship that the client has with their builder and interior designer is crucial, as is the relationship between the builder and the interior designer. This is an important trio. That’s your team.

Does your background affect how you work with an architect?

A lot of times with architects, I just study their plans and try to understand if it makes sense for that client. I won’t be quiet if something pops out at me that doesn’t work. I know details that might change the way a client functions within that space. Maybe they are lefthanded or need to have a restroom that is very close to their bed.

Although the architect can create the feeling the client wants, I like to narrow it down to explore the pixels of their life and really understand what they love and what they want to feel when they are in their home. It’s a lot of sociology.

What is the relationship between sociology and interior design?

It’s like research work to understand the client. It’s looking at mannerisms, the way they move and talk and explain things. Even the pictures they’ve cut out. That’s a good starting point. They might love a bench, so I ask them what it is about the bench. They might say the wood, but then I point out other things: Do you love the bolts in the side, or the raw steel of the supports or that the wood is split in the middle so crumbs may get in? And then they really look and realize they don’t like any of that.

It’s important to find out what the client really wants because sometimes they don’t even know.

JOSHUA LAWRENCE

How does the interior design process start for a project?

First, it’s just a meet and greet to see if the fit is good and to get an understanding of the scope of the work. One important thing people don’t always understand are timelines. A lot of people believe they are allowing a lot of time for something if they give it a couple of months, but it can take at least that long to source and order a specific product. You will need way more time than you ever expected.

After you meet, gather information and work out the timeline, it’s time to figure out the budget. I have found that some people are worried about giving you the actual budget, so they might lowball — and it’s good to have that baseline. But most people are willing to alter their budget for their dreams.

Flintstones and Capital Iron have collaborated on numerous award winning projects; from the initial design to the finished product.

If it’s outdoor living, it’s our specialty!

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1900 Store Street, VICTORIA 250-385-9703

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SUMMER 2019

JOSHUA LAWRENCE

Culinary Classic.

Beautifully British.

For this Broadmead project with D’AMBROSIO architecture + urbanism and Horizon Pacific Contracting, D’Introno embraced a natural palette to complement the home’s forested backdrop. Cabinetry by Splinters Millworks, limestone walls, concrete elements and white oak flooring all work in harmony to create a modern look that celebrates the wooded setting.

3400 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8Z 3L5 (250) 380-1570

Ensuite_thirdPage_Perrin_Rowe_2019.indd 1

Does bringing inspiration photos help?

It’s always useful to have any information that a client can gather for inspiration. Then we’ll narrow it down to the things that are really important, and then we can get those things into the space. I think it’s good to have an idea and a direction and to never be scared to speak up. Especially to your designer. If you’re looking at something and thinking this is not really the vision I had, it’s easier to stop it the earlier you speak up.

What misconceptions do people take from interior design shows on television that are important to debunk?

It’s sad because people do get their expectations up for these quick, easy designs.

It’s important to realize that anyone can make a room look beautiful by picking out colour schemes, but the intellectual property of an experienced designer is something you can’t get in a television show or a 15-minute clip.

There is a lot more to it when you get into the thick of the design.

How does it go beyond the look?

It’s space design, spatial awareness, the connection between rooms and what you do in those rooms. It’s understanding the relationship between materials, furniture and lighting. It’s how to work with tricky architecture ... It’s also a willingness to be a little daring in your design.

2019-01-11 11:27:53

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MADE TO LAST

WADE COMER

WHAT BUILDING MATERIALS ARE THE BEST CHOICE FOR YOUR RESIDENTIAL PROJECT? SPRUCE EXPLORES THE OPTIONS.

Selecting the material for your house can be the most important decision of your build, but for some, it can feel like one of the more tedious choices, riddled with budget, location and time constraints. To simplify the process, we investigate the pros and cons of each — so you can sit back, relax and ponder what’s best for your home. BY DANIELLE POPE

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here was once a nursery rhyme about three little pigs who were forced to choose building materials to protect them from a big bad wolf. With their earnest efforts in straw, sticks and bricks, the pigs hoped to preserve their safety and live peaceful lives. As the story goes, material matters.

Fortunately, today’s market of building options will prevent any wolf — or Mother Nature — from huffing and puffing and blowing your house down. From traditional wood-frame structures, to steel and concrete, to new fabrications like foam and cross-laminated timber, materials are as varied as the homes they’re used to create.

MORE THAN STICKS Wooden houses have been a staple of B.C. architecture for hundreds of years. According to builder Matt Doyle, there are a multitude of reasons to choose timber as the basis of a home.

“B.C.’s forestry industry is a big reason we see so many wood homes here — but there are a lot of benefits to working with wood products,” says Doyle, managing director and Chief Operating Officer of the BC Home Builders Corporation.

Wood is one of the most cost effective, easiest and versatile materials to work with, says Doyle.

Construction only requires a moderate skill level, build time can be predictable and finances can focus on other areas — from insulation and interiors, to landscaping. It’s also a material with leniency for change, so walls or windows can be added and subtracted with ease.

Wood comes with some challenges, of course, including susceptibility to the elements — from fire and flood, to insects and wear. While treatments prolong durability, a wood-framed house will settle and require renovations over time.

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“WOOD IS ONE OF THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE, EASIEST AND VERSATILE MATERIALS TO WORK WITH.”

Vancouver architect Greg Dowling chose cross-laminated timber (CLT), an ultra-strong engineered wood, as the main structural material for his own home in West Vancouver, shown above. The Dowling Residence’s foundation is conventional concrete with a few concrete walls and steel columns, but CLT is the primary component of the floors, wall and roofs. It is the first structure in North America to be constructed with CLT.

“One of the first questions you have to address at the start of a project is what kind of environment you’re looking for inside the home,” says Doyle. “That will help you figure out what’s possible, and what’s not.”

If you’re aiming for large, open layouts, for example, long, supportive beams will be needed, which steel is commonly used for rather than wood. While new builds have the luxury of choice, renovations — especially with older houses — are often locked into using wood products. Addressing environmental concerns is even more complex.

“People worry that using wood has an impact on the forests,” says Doyle. “That’s true, but manufacturing steel and concrete can be water heavy, so you have to decide what’s right by you.”

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MAN OF STEEL Dennis Rogers has always been impressed with the tenacity of steel. The material is completely non-combustible, with light gauge steel handling up to 1,400 degrees Celsius. It’s also sturdy enough to survive natural disasters, from earthquakes to hurricanes.

Rogers, owner of InSteel Structures, says steel can boost the strength, straightness and durability of any building. The material can also now be created through 3-D prints and can be prefabricated off site by engineers, meaning installation is getting easier.

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STEEL CAN NOW BE CREATED THROUGH 3-D PRINTS AND CAN BE PREFABRICATED OFF SITE BY ENGINEERS, MEANING INSTALLATION IS GETTING EASIER. “Building with steel is going to be 30 to 40 per cent faster than building with wood, and you can create a structure 12 storeys high with confidence, as opposed to a five-storey wood building,” says Rogers. “In a world where urban sprawl is an issue, and we have to build up, steel is the way forward.”

Most steel is shipped to B.C., making it slightly more costly to work with. It’s also more challenging to insulate, meaning budgets must factor in support for managing heat and cold. However, the payoff of a material resistant to West Coast mould, rot and bugs could be worth it.

“If I was to build a house today, no doubt in my mind it would be with light gauge steel, which is the best for surviving earthquakes,” says Rogers. “That’s good future planning.”

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This page: Any home designed for wood framing can be re-engineered to use InSteel Structure’s steel framing as a substitute.

Opposite: This home by NZ Builders was constructed using a concrete sandwich panel building method.

BRIGGS & STRATTON & ASSOCIATES

A CONCRETE CONCEPT When it comes to premium building materials, concrete has become the luxury choice. With versatility in its use, a finish that stands on its own and a focus on sustainability, this material stacks up against the rest.

Its natural materials (cement, stone and sand) make it easy to source and build onsite, and concrete also strengthens as it ages. The raw look has become a design trend, and concrete can create net-zero-energy buildings with excellent insulation against heat and cold, as well as unparalleled soundproofing.

This material is also resilient to most natural disasters, including fires, and stands up well to West Coast woes.

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The cost of labour and expertise involved with laying the material makes this a serious investment, though. As well, plans for a home have to be certain, as changing the layout once created is difficult.

“We mostly see concrete in high-end homes, because that reflects the expense,” says Doyle. “If done properly, however, your upkeep is almost nothing, and it only gets stronger the longer it sits there. This is a material that’s going to last.”

SOMETHING DIFFERENT — FOAM AND CLT Two newer materials on the market have given architects and designers another consideration.

Foam foundations are hollow blocks assembled like Lego pieces, then filled with

of Victoria’s real estate market and the characteristics of the array of neighbourhoods under consideration.

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steel rods and concrete to create a structure.

These “insulated concrete forms” come in a range of sizes to accommodate any project.

The dimensions work for precision builds based on preconceived measurements and can be made almost entirely off site, with nominal construction time. The blocks are prepared so drywall can easily be installed on the interior, and siding can be affixed to the exterior.

“This is the ultimate choice when it comes to zero waste, because everything is prepared ahead of time,” says Todd Martin,

“[FOAM BLOCKS ARE] THE ULTIMATE CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO ZERO WASTE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS PREPARED AHEAD OF TIME.” principal of Knot in a Box Design. “These blocks are so easy to move; you can haul in an entire building on a few semitrucks — but they do take up a lot of space, and you need forethought going in.”

The blocks take up a few millimetres more than traditional foundations, but compensate with superior airtight efficiency — making this a top pick for noise cancellation, insulation and stability.

Cross-laminated timber (CLT), an ultrastrong engineered wood, is just entering the North American market and could change how all types of buildings are constructed.

Given the material’s versatility, steadfastness and sustainability, supporters see its promise — especially for a wood market like B.C. Architect Greg Dowling constructed Canada’s first CLT structure in North America, when he built his home in West Vancouver.

When Dowling built his house, he special

MATERIALS AT A GLANCE WOOD

STEEL

CONCRETE

FOAM

CLT

Cost

$

$$

$$$

$$$

$$$$

Skill level

Moderate

Prefabricated

Advanced

Advanced

Prefabricated

Strengths

• Inexpensive • Common • Easy to work with • Energy efficient

• Sturdy • Withstands the elements and natural disasters • Non-combustible • Recyclable

• Resilient against the elements and natural disasters • Sustainable • Energy efficient • Material strengthens with age

• Lightweight (so large buildings can be created with ease) • Reduced build time • Precision building

• Sustainable • Strong and flexible • Earthquake resistant • Accelerated build time

Weaknesses

• Combustible • Susceptible to elements, bugs and rot • Will require repair and upkeep

• Challenging to insulate and heat • Can rust and weather over time • Experienced contractor required

• Expensive • Experienced contractor required • Difficult to change once constructed

• Expensive • Experienced contractor required • Can increase required building space

• High price point due to specialization • Experienced contractor required

ordered pre-cut CLT from Austria. Now, with a number of manufacturers in North America, including one in the Okanagan, Dowling says the product won’t take long to become popular. CLT has also shown remarkable resistance to earthquakes, as the wood is strong but flexible.

“This material requires knowledge from the designer, but it’s the most practical option when it comes long-term benefits and sustainability,” says Dowling. “Building my home was an experiment, but it galvanized my

“[CLT] REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE FROM THE DESIGNER, BUT IT’S THE MOST PRACTICAL OPTION WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET AND LONGTERM BENEFITS.”

belief that CLT will be the way of the future.”

No matter what material feels right, Doyle suggests learning as much as you can about what’s important to you for your home. And while there will always be natural adversaries to watch for, support is around the bend.

“What fascinates me is not what we are using today, but realizing this is constantly changing,” Doyle says. “In five years, technology and materials will be different, as will be the way we look at things. That’s exciting.”

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â– MODERN CUSTOM BUILD

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LUXURY ON THE OCEAN THE FLOW OF WATER INSPIRES THE DESIGN OF THIS CUSTOM-BUILT WEST COAST HOME.

BY DANIELLE POPE PHOTOS BY JOSHUA LAWRENCE

O Water was the thematic inspiration for this Vancouver Island home, from its curving roofline and the contours of the building to the stone and natural materials used throughout. The exterior cladding is done with corten steel and yellow cedar to create a clean look that blends in with the environment. The homeowners wanted the beach to flow into this house and landscaped the property using native plants.

n the edge of the water, sits an elegant home overlooking Haro Straight. From the road, the house flows seamlessly into the landscape, with the sweeping curve in its roofline echoing the environment, and the way the two-storey build is subtly set into a slope. From the water, the house appears as a stately ocean villa, fishbowling itself with an entire side of floor-to-ceiling windows, pedestal porch and a built-in hot tub.

The home appears so comfortable in its setting, it’s hard to imagine the worn out cottage that once perched in its place, or the fact that the owners had to overcome seemingly endless restrictions to create this dream — from satisfying specialized

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environmental permits to getting heritage designations relaxed for a long-decrepit building.

While the project would prove to be a challenge from the start — including a complicated building environment on a sloped hill — the result is a house that homeowner, builder, architect and designer are equally proud to have had a role in creating.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME “This is one of those projects that comes along once in a lifetime,” says architect Christine Lintott. “Residential houses are peculiar endeavours as there’s a deep level of intimacy involved. It’s about understanding the relationships in the house, the tastes each person has and what they imagine for the home. Getting a chance to work on a project like this, with a client who cares deeply

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about the quality of the craftsmanship, is very special.”

The 5,000-square-foot home was a downsize for the owners, who wanted to focus their empty-nester lives on living as close as possible to the environment they love — the ocean and its surrounding beauty. Little surprise, the themes of water and flow are used throughout in the home’s architecture, building materials and interior design.

In addition to a unique curvature in the shape of the house, and an emphasis on natural materials, the home was built with seismic safety and environmental considerations in mind. The owners wanted to ensure that the beach flowed into the home’s design and that native plants, trees and grasses would be preserved. Great

efforts were taken to maintain the safety of a stately cedar tree, which has special prominence on the property. The home is heated with 100-per-cent renewable energy, through both a heat pump and rooftop solar evacuated tubing.

“The project was run very much as a collaboration, and I’ve always been impressed with Christine’s work,” says builder John H. Knappett, President of Knappett Projects Inc. “We wanted to achieve something both visually and structurally interesting, with a real prominence on using local, natural materials.”

ELEMENTS OF NATURE Concrete was the driving force in the home’s creation, from the structure to the heated, polished concrete floors, which create a beach-like feel to the house. The

Left: One of the most striking features of this house is the expansive view provided by the wood-framed curtain wall that overlooks Haro Strait. The sills were created from local Douglas fir while the kitchen acts as an elegant entry point for the eye, with natural stone countertops and backsplash in Calacatta Macaubas Quartzite and Black Vermont Satin.

Below: The living room continues the theme of flow, with the fireplace stone in Calacatta Cielo, drawing the eye towards the windows and surrounding water. Local blacksmith Jake James fabricated the metal hearth of the fireplace to play up the use of natural materials and create an interesting contrast with the smooth lines of the old-growth Douglas fir ceiling.

“THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT COMES ALONG ONCE IN A LIFETIME.�

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“WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING BOTH VISUALLY AND STRUCTURALLY INTERESTING, WITH A REAL PROMINENCE ON USING LOCAL, NATURAL MATERIALS.”

SUMMER 2019

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The homeowners were committed to using natural materials for this project that would be durable and seismically safe, so concrete was chosen for the structure, providing superior insulation, soundproofing and durability. The polished concrete floors were installed with internal in-floor heating, but began as an experiment to create a riverbed look that would match the water theme.

It took nearly five months for the floors to reach the desired polish. Aggregate slabs were specially ordered from a pit in Nanaimo, then the floors were seeded with beach stones that were ground into them.

floors started as an experiment and took nearly five months to complete, but became an outstanding feature of the house. The owners specially ordered aggregate rocks from a pit in Nanaimo, selecting only those with beach colours naturally mixed in. The concrete was then seeded with colour-themed stones, which were ground into the slabs.

Heavy laminated timber was used for the roof, with ceilings made from old-growth Douglas fir milled in the Cowichan Valley.

Wooden finishes are found throughout the house, and maple from the property was turned into furniture. The kitchen cabinetry was crafted using precise, grain-matched walnut to create a pattern that flows to the windows.

“The owners are very much water people in everything they do, from kite surfing to enjoying the ocean and their hot tub,” says Knappett. “They wanted the home to be nautical, beach and water themed, with a focus on elements found in nature.”

The interior of the house is filled with granite and marble features, while the exterior is a combo of yellow cedar from the Cowichan Valley and corten steel panels — both of which create an oceanside patina over time, so little maintenance is required. The home, which sits on over half an acre, has a triple detached garage, two bedrooms on the

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main level, along with a lower-level guest suite that offers visitors their own private living space and a generous exercise room.

“We are surrounded by an abundant ecosystem on the West Coast, and we believe humans affiliate closely with natural materials,” says Lintott. “The design of the home, from the floor to the wood grains, moves people through the house. We wanted the very fabric of the building to be the finish, and it’s both animated and accessible. This is a bold expression of the homeowners.”

AN INVITING RETREAT Kelly Moir, principal of KM Interior Designs, says the interior design of the project focused primarily on drawing eyes to the view. That meant installing a fireplace feature made of walnut and stone that fit the scale, while not distracting from the scenery.

Simple, quality materials took the place of anything visually overwhelming.

One of the stylistically impressive features of the house is the work created by local artists, including an exterior glass screen by Victorian Charles Gabriel, and metalwork created by Jake James — a blacksmith in Metchosin, who fabricated the

Left: The kitchen and wine bar may appear subtle at first glance, but the cabinetry’s remarkable grain-matched lines are the work of Jason Good Custom Cabinets.

Completed in walnut, they draw the eyes of onlookers through the house and once again to the water. The contrast of the Douglas fir ceiling and polished concrete floor highlight the movement of this feature.

Above: The master bathroom captures the relaxing spa quality of the water theme with a pedestal tub and full walkin shower made with a wall of Calacatta Apuano marble. A dual-sink vanity combines function and artistry, and the curving roofline draws the eye up and around the room.

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evoke drama drama evoke

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fireplace hearth, as well as a wrought iron raincatching feature at the entrance.

Moir’s favourite attribute, however, is the guest level — given as much thoughtful design as the rest of the house, to ensure family, friends and visitors experience an exquisite stay.

“The whole home is so welcoming and invites people in. I would defy any guest to not have trouble leaving,” says Moir, with a laugh. “From the theatre and bar room, to the deck and beach access, this place is designed for gathering and for family. It was created to be lived in and enjoyed by all who enter.”

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ANDREW MAXWELL Victoria Real Estate Professional

The wrought iron rain-catching feature at the entrance of the home was created by local blacksmith and metalworker Jake James as a specially commissioned piece. The spout adds more flowing lines and artistic interest to the house’s water theme.

Buying or selling, I am dedicated to providing my clients with exceptional service, sound negotiating techniques and constant communication through the process.

RESOURCES

Take advantage of Sotheby’s International Realty Canada’s comprehensive and well thought out approach to marketing real estate. Luxury isn’t about price point but about an experience.

ARCHITECT: Christine Lintott Architects INTERIOR DESIGN: Kelly Moir, KM Interior Designs BUILDER: John H. Knappett, Knappett Projects LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Murdoch de Greeff

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BUSINESS PROFILE

LIVE WELL AT AQUARA Fully embracing an active retirement community, Aquara by Element Lifestyle Retirement offers a range of living opportunities for seniors looking to age-in-place.

O

ne of the most dramatic changes the elderly face is leaving home for a care facility. Doing so too early can feel unwarranted, and too late can be stressful for everyone. And often nothing is available when need does arise, whether in non-profit, government-funded, or private-care settings. But what if transition could be made to a condo or rental where all the needs of aging were met as they arose, with proactive decisions based on desire, pride, and social and emotional wellness?

Making a Move

Aquara development by Element Lifestyle Retirement is a harbourside community in Songhees in Vic West. Its built-in care for 65+ seniors combines maximum quality of life with support as needed. Aquara’s lifestyle continuum is attentive but not intrusive, providing homes for active and independent seniors or those needing greater assistance and intervention, with up to 24-hour care.

“We know that seniors and younger generations both benefit when seniors are not isolated and they participate in our culture like everyone else, as they did before retirement,” says Candy Ho, Vice President of Element. “We are unique in Victoria for our choice of either purchasing or renting in an aging-inplace retirement community that celebrates integration of all generations.”

Keeping Together

“We make it easy for couples of different needs to stay together and receive the help they need.

We allow people to enjoy a full and active retirement, confident that they will not have to move again due to increased care needs.”

This intergenerational focus is unlike anything traditional retirement living offers. By removing the stigma and — Candy Ho, disconnection of retirement and nursing homes, its residents Vice President, stay connected. Grandchildren are welcome and, indeed, Element Lifestyle Retirement can look forward to age-appropriate programming in a fun, clubhouse setting.

“This is a gathering place for all generations — from grandparents to grandchildren, neighbours and friends,” says Candy Ho. “We encourage our residents to invite any friends or family regularly, not just on special occasions.”

Aquara has designed its spaces and policies to allow couples with different health requirements to stay in each others’ daily lives and receive customized nursing care.

Seniors who live independently can stay in the same unit while receiving supportive services if their health deteriorates, or move on-site into the licensed care area for around-the-clock registered nursing. By removing the social and physical strain of bigger moves, this provides maximum continuity and familiarity for everyone involved.

Upon completion, Aquara will offer 47 condos, 75 rental suites, and 35 care units.

Sales will open in summer 2019.

#110 - 645 Tyee Road, Victoria | 778.951.5409 | aquara.elementlifestyleretirement.com

â– BEACH HOUSE RENO

SEASIDE STYLE A COASTAL RECREATIONAL PROPERTY IS TRANSFORMED INTO A SOPHISTICATED BEACH HOUSE WITH ALL THE AMENITIES.

BY DAVID LENNAM

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PHOTOS BY JOSHUA LAWRENCE

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S

ometimes, when you spend parts of a decade in a house before renovating, you think you know exactly what you want. You’ve lived in it. You’re comfortable. You know how to navigate the space. It all feels pretty straightforward. Sometimes, what you really want means tearing it all down, starting over and creating something truly special.

That’s what happened when a retiring couple from Calgary opted to move full-time into their aging Cadboro Bay beach cottage.

They knew a West Coast lifestyle suited them and figured a modest renovation of the 1940s bungalow would be enough. The unique location — a low-bank section of beachfront — was something that couldn’t be replicated elsewhere.

It had been the ideal recreational property, somewhere they didn’t have to worry about tracking sand across the floor. A beach house, pure and simple.

They didn’t want to do an extensive reno or knock the place down, but when they got it down to the studs, they discovered that the foundation was not going to be adequate. It was uneven and had been patched together over the years.

So, on the advice of builder Andrew Tidman, of Tidman Construction, they decided to knock it down, redraw the designs and build from the new foundation up. That enabled an almost complete flexibility of design instead of something that would have been a compromise.

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The homeowners needed hanging kitchen lighting to provide interest without stealing from the view. They opted for a combination of simple glass pendants and swivel head monorail tracks, both by LBL Lighting from Mclaren Lighting. The wavy sandy pattern on the kitchen island, meant to tie in to the neighbouring beachfront, is Cambria quartz from FLOFORM Countertops. It works well with the rest of the countertops by Caesarstone and the backsplash tile of Daltile marble.

Inset, this page: The new beach house sits on the same footprint as its 1940s predecessor, but has maximized the sight lines of a waterfront lot. The favoured outdoor space is around a patio fire table just up those steps from the beach.

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Their wish list was quite modest: to reorganize the floor space to suit a lifestyle that included entertaining and hosting family guests; to maximize the fantastic ocean views and to expand that to as many rooms as possible; and to strike a balance between an elegant home and one that was comfortable, practical, relaxed and retained a chic beach house vibe.

Tidman recalls his first meeting with the couple, walking into that old bungalow and thinking how much he loved it.

“I thought the house they had there was amazing,” he says. “I would have just repainted a few things and redone the kitchen. But obviously the house they have now is tenfold to what it was.”

Tidman realized the couple’s real issue with the old space was design flow.

“It wasn’t best for how they were using the house and how they wanted to use the house.”

Building regulations wouldn’t allow them to expand the footprint of the original bungalow, nor could they go up in height to add a second storey. However, there’s ample elbow space in the resulting 5,200 square feet, which is spread over two levels, centred around a vaultedceiling great room. There are four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and an art studio — even a spacious butler’s pantry is slipped in, out of sight, behind the kitchen.

Wire-brushed oak engineered hardwood flooring runs throughout with a micro bevel finish and a beachy, whitewashed look (selected, in part, because it doesn’t show the hair of the couple’s 27 kg. Labradoodle). The open plan of the dining/living/kitchen area — without walls to block the sun or the eye’s gaze — was tempered with a number of small rugs to delineate areas. As their designer, Elaine Martel of Kimberly Williams Interiors, explains, “The carpets become the walls of open living.”

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NAUTICAL MOTIF A discreetly placed spiral staircase that cascades natural light into the basement and several whimsical round windows adds a nautical motif, as well as breaking up some of the house’s very horizontal and vertical lines.

One of the homeowners’ favourite touches is the fireplace surround — a new product, a super-thin, real travertine slab.

“I wanted something really special,” the homeowner says. “Both my parents were geologists so I love rocks and it’s a beautiful piece of rock.”

Installing that new foundation meant raising the house about a foot and a half — a decision that resulted in a basement with full-height eight-foot ceilings.

“Before you could barely stand up down there,” says Tidman. “Now downstairs is a light, bright, big open space.”

At a time when new construction seems to skew towards grand and ostentatious, there was a desire to keep this beach home as much like a cottage as possible, as long as it was functional, clean, unfussy and tasteful. A place

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the owners could grow old in, where everything was on the main floor and easy to care for, but done beautifully.

Their philosophy was “go with what the house says” so they took clues from the environment to inform the interior design.

Keeping a beach house style in what became a brand new space meant making choices that complemented and reflected beachfront living.

“We knew their aesthetic — a cozy, casual beach house,” notes Martel, “and didn’t want it to be something that takes your eye from the view or from her art (one of the couple is a professional artist with many of her own pieces hanging in the house).”

The colour palette is all soft and neutral and natural. Earthy tones that invite the outside in, but keep it warm when outside storms rage.

Even the countertops, notably the Cambria quartz slab on the kitchen island, have a wavy, sandy pattern.

The open plan great room is airy and uncluttered, with French doors facing each other on opposite sides of the house to let the sea breezes flow through — or the conversation flow out onto the beachside porch and a fire table seating area, the couple’s favoured spot to enjoy the evening where there’s always something going on.

“We can watch them moving boats off the beach, sailing lessons, dog walkers, lovers, arguments, little parties. There’s always some drama going on.”

Left: A roomy butler’s pantry is virtually hidden behind the kitchen wall and is where the homeowners don’t have any clutter anxiety. “It’s where we put all the practical stuff,” like the coffee maker, a second sink and dishwasher, a wine fridge, even a pull-out dog food/dish station. A spiral staircase to downstairs is located discreetly below the round window.

Right: Live-edge walnut in the powder room, from P.J. White Hardwoods, is a striking base for an Akrotiri Vessel Sink by Stone Forest. Wall-mount faucet is by Riobel.

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Saanich, BC 4248 Glanford Ave. 250.727.9976

B G SH OWR O O M S .C O M

Left: The design along the sea side of the house was about bringing the outdoors inside. The master bedroom has sweeping views of the yacht club. The uncluttered space in a neutral palette is designed to draw the eye to the window.

Below: In the ensuite, an elegant freestanding Maax Ariosa model tub from Island Marble gives a full five-foot length to stretch out in. The vanity lighting is from the Oxford collection by Visual Comfort & Co.

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RESOURCES HOUSE DESIGNERS:

Michael Cullin and David Adams INTERIOR DESIGN: Kimberly Williams Interiors GENERAL CONTRACTING: Tidman Construction ELECTRICAL: Copperstone Electrical Systems PLUMBING: Rapid Plumbing & Heating MILLWORK: ProNautic Interiors MOTORIZED BLINDS: Island Window Coverings WINDOWS AND PATIO DOORS:

EuroLine Windows

ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORS:

Island Floor Centre

KITCHEN COUNTERTOP:

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BLACK WALNUT LIVE-EDGE COUNTER AND BENCH: P.J. White Hardwoods

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LIGHTING: Mclaren Lighting

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â– COTTAGE CONVERSION

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Before, stained fir millwork and black countertops darkened the already-cramped kitchen.

Removing the dark wood paneling from the ceiling, combined with tearing down the dividing walls, brightened the area and gave space to add an island for casual eating. Adding a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore’s White Wisp paint to all walls throughout the space created a minimalist backdrop to highlight natural components. It was important to the homeowners to have a functional space, so interior designer Pamela Billinghurst designed floor-toceiling storage in the transition area so the homeowners can easily hide their kids’ toys when guests arrive. Billinghurst added a built-in desk, which grants the homeowners a working space — without taking up extra room — keeping the open living space clean and accessible.

A DWELLING

BY THE SHORE NESTLED ON A FORMER CABIN ROAD OFF THE GORGE WATERWAY STANDS A 1913 HOME THAT STILL BEAUTIFULLY FULFILLS ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE AS A BEACHSIDE OASIS.

BY NESSA PULLMAN

PHOTOS BY DEAN AZIM

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W

hen Naomi and Cole Reinhart finished a three-year stint living in Australia, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, they knew the house they found perched on Vancouver Island’s coastline would be the right place to finally plant roots.

“We spent a lot of time on the ocean; it just felt natural for us to live in that environment,” says Naomi Reinhart.

Originally, the couple had rented a house a few blocks from the old cabin road off the Gorge waterway, and during walks through the neighbourhood, Naomi would often find herself standing in front of the old house.

“Design-wise, it’s not something I would naturally be drawn to,” says Naomi, “but for some reason, I’ve always been fascinated by this house.”

The house was listed for sale right after the Reinharts’ offer on another home fell through, and they leaped at the opportunity with no hesitation.

“The second I was finally able to walk through the space, I began dreaming of all the things I wanted to change, to really create a home that suited us,” says Naomi.

What started out as an emergency bathroom repair quickly segued into renovating the entire main floor living area — and having an interior designer as a best friend certainly helped with the decision process.

“When the bathroom needed fixing we

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CREATING SPACE

reached out to our good friend Pamela [of Pamela Billinghurst Interior Design] for help,” says Naomi. “In that process, we realized that our home is a whole — it’s all connected. We understood the value of approaching this in a holistic way.”

The two essential goals for this main floor renovation were to brighten the space significantly and create more functional living areas.

“The existing layout was very cramped and closed off,” says Billinghurst. “They wanted to create space to entertain and at the same time nurture intimate family time.”

Billinghurst did this by extending the back wall onto the existing deck to gain square footage and removing the compartmentalized fir millwork that originally darkened and closed the space off. A primarily modern design infused with principles of minimalism was used to enhance the elements of light and nature valued by the homeowners. Crisp white wall paint, tiles and millwork harmonize with white oak flooring throughout the entire main floor. To avoid a clinical feel, Billinghurst used transitional design details, such as brass hardware and lighting fixtures and subtle earthy tones meant to evoke natural greenery and warm woods.

“We tend to be drawn to the influences of light and nature found in coastal communities,” Naomi says. “We wanted those components brought into our home — a tranquil escape from the business of life.”

Unlike a typical renovation project, which is often managed by one overseeing contractor, this project was an equally balanced

Having space to use the kitchen, while accommodating guests and family, was a big intention in the new design.

A contemporary open-concept kitchen was custom built by Innovative Kitchen and Bath, using Caesarstone’s Blizzard 2141 Quartz on the countertops and classic Shaker-style cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s Oxford White. A honeycomb patterned backsplash adds texture against the sleek surfaces.

To offset the all-white furnishings, satin brass cabinet pulls by Emtek tie in the subtle details on the Gubi Gräshoppa island pendants. New stainless steel appliances by Fisher & Paykel from Landsdowne Appliance Gallery give the space a modern esthetic.

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What was left of the back deck after the extension provided a flexible indoor/outdoor space as part of the new dining room. An oversized Gubi Ronde dining pendant above a textured wood dining table acts as a focal point in the airy space. New enlarged windows, installed by Van Isle Windows, allow natural light to flood into the open-concept expanse. Existing artwork supplied by the homeowners illustrate the curves and pastel hues found from the ocean —decorating the blank walls with motion.

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“... WE REALIZED THAT OUR HOME IS A WHOLE — IT’S ALL CONNECTED. WE UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF APPROACHING THIS IN A HOLISTIC WAY.”

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collaboration amongst many trades.

“Everyone stepped in to fill a hole and worked together where needed,” Naomi says. This collaboration included MADA Construction for the demolition and framework, Dol Homes on the finishing carpentry and Quality Victoria Drywall on the drywalling.

“It’s an incredible experience to witness artists in their craft,” Naomi says, “I really learned that no one is more valuable than the other — every single component is equally needed to come together holistically to create an end result.”

RETRO-FIT TRADITIONAL CONTEMPORARY

HAPPY SURPRISES As is often anticipated with older homes, challenges arose when the contractor began taking down walls. When removing the existing pantry to create the open concept area, the homeowners discovered it was a crucial structural component. This development resulted in them having to hire a structural engineer to redesign the entire roof plan. “What started out as a setback ended up being a ‘happy surprise,’ ” says Billinghurst with a laugh. “We needed to increase the ceiling height, which ended up enhancing the overall space as a result.”

No longer just a cabin road, the Reinharts’ street has evolved into a residential neighbourhood. And while their house has a new modernized look, it maintains its purpose as an oceanside retreat.

“With a one-hundred-year-old house, you know that a lot of lives were lived in it,” Reinhart says. “Copious dreams and DIYprojects from all those before us filled the space. It was time to claim it as our own.”

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RESOURCES GENERAL CONTRACTOR: MADA Construction INTERIOR DESIGNER:

Pamela Billinghurst Interior Design STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: RJC Engineers FINISHING CARPENTRY: Dol Homes INTERIOR PAINTING: Indelible Paint Works HARDWOOD INSTALLATION:

Stuart Hardwood Flooring TILE INSTALLATION: Square One Tile Installation MILLWORK: Innovative Kitchen and Bath

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JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

Room for Outdoor Living AN UNDEVELOPED BACKYARD IN SIDNEY GOES FROM HO-HUM TO STAND OUT, BECOMING AN INVITING FRENCH-INSPIRED OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE WITH A WEST-COAST SPIN. BY ERIN McINTOSH

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hen Katie Kroeker asked her clients what their garden looked like in their “wildest dreams,” they shared their vision of sitting around a beautiful firepit looking out at the ocean.

The clients, Deborah Dodge and her husband, Major Philip Dodge, moved into their oceanfront home in March of 2018. The outdoor space was nothing but mud. Their neighbours had a beautiful backyard, and — as former clients — highly recommended Katie and Merle Kroeker of Pacific Ridge Landscapes. Given that the Dodges’ contractor for their interior renovations had also recommended Pacific Ridge, they called on the Kroekers for help.

“This is our retirement home, so I wanted the house to have a garden that was somewhat low

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The original deck had rotted through, so it was ripped out to make way for the new look. Using paving stones, natural rock and stained cedar pergolas, Pacific Ridge designed three distinct seating areas, including the fire pit, a barbecue area and an outdoor dining room. To create flow, the same pavers were used in each area and the same natural stone was used for the fire pit as was used for the retaining wall. Along with natural stone, the fire pit uses natural gas. “A fire is guaranteed to draw you outside and extend your time there,” Kroeker says.

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maintenance,” Deborah says. “We’ve done a lot of travelling. One of the places we’ve been to is France, and I love French gardens. I love how casual they are, and I love lavender and grasses, so I wanted that: I wanted an easy garden.”

With this vision in mind, the Kroekers put together a plan to overhaul the Dodges’ lackluster outdoor space and create a Frenchinspired retreat with a West Coast spin.

“WE VIRTUALLY LIVE OUTSIDE. WE EAT OUR BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING IN THE SUN UNDER ONE OF THE PERGOLAS AND MOVE AROUND IN THE EVENING TO HAVE A GLASS OF WINE.”

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“Part of our interview process in the design stage is to really get to know them and how they see themselves using the space because there’s no point in us installing something they’re not going to use or like, so we have to get quite involved in how they want to interact,” Merle says.

Part of the goal of the outside landscape was to bring a cohesive feel to the entire home. The older house, which had multiple additions added over the years, suffered from a lack of flow between the interior and outdoor spaces.

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

Lighting is also an important element in this backyard, and extends the use of the space. Fixtures are lowvoltage LED, requiring little power and reducing the risk of disturbing the neighbours.

“Lighting is often the first to be cut from the budget, but no one ever regrets putting it in,” Kroeker says.

“It has the most impact, giving a glow and creating atmosphere.”

THE WEST COAST INFLUENCE Starting shortly after the Dodges moved in, Pacific Ridge went to work. They pulled out the original deck, which had rotted through, and replaced it with a wraparound Abbotsford paving-stone patio. Pergolas were built using stained cedar, and the most important piece — a natural gas fireplace — was installed a stone’s throw away from the ocean. Ornamental grasses were planted around the property, and a flower garden was built for Deborah. The view was unobstructed, the plants were colourful and easy to maintain — and the mud was finally gone.

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OUTDOOR LIVING After six weeks of work, the Dodges’ backyard was complete. Deborah and her husband were able to spend the summer in their new space.

“We virtually live outside,” Deborah says.

“We eat our breakfast in the morning in the sun under one of the pergolas and move around in the evening to have a glass of wine. We’re at the firepit every other night. We realized that once we were in the house, with the landscaping

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~ Alfred Tennyson

INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING JEWELLERY DESIGNERS • SINCE 1972 946 Fort St, Victoria, BC • 250-383-3414 • www.idar.com

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

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I could walk through my garden forever

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Pacific Ridge chose heartier, site-appropriate plantings that could handle full sun and wind. All of the plantings — including Salvia, Alchemilla, Nepeta, Lavender and ornamental grasses — attract bees and pollinators. The landscape was designed to invite guests to linger and enjoy the view.

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done, it kind of added to the esthetic of the inside. When you look outside, you’re not seeing mud, you’re seeing this beautiful garden with beautiful plants and the boulders and the seating area.”

The landscaping not only affected the Dodges’ backyard, but their neighbours’ too. A large cedar hedge stood between the Dodges’ property and their neighbours to the north, but it served no esthetic purpose. On Pacific Ridge’s recommendation, the Dodges and the neighbours made the unanimous decision to get rid of it. This opened up the space enormously, resulting in both properties having a better view of the ocean.

The Kroekers say it was one of the rare projects that came out very close to the initial design.

“It kind of felt like it was all a partnership of equals,” Katie says. “We’re all just in it together to create something wonderful; everybody had that shared goal.”

With a strong team, open communication and a vision that saw beyond an expanse of mud, the Dodges’ backyard dreams came true.

Pacific Ridge created a natural stone retaining wall, along with stone steps from the back door down to the paverstone patio that overlooks the ocean.

“We use natural stone steps as often as possible,” Kroeker says. “We prefer the look over other options, and they will last forever.”

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DETAILS

BY ATHENA McKENZIE

COOKING AL FRESCO

THE NEW DREAM KITCHEN EMBODIES OUTDOOR LIVING AT ITS BEST.

The most enjoyable parties usually end up with everyone in the kitchen, so it’s only fair that your outdoor celebrations have the same potential for greatness. The perfect outdoor kitchen strikes a balance between style and functionality and are true extensions of your home. There’s no limit to the luxury elements you can add, from high-tech cooking appliances, wine refrigerators, beverage dispensers, pizza ovens, fireplaces and even stereo systems, televisions and speakers. These inviting spots do come with a warning: Your guests will never want to leave.

DESIGN DECISIONS

The luxury appliances in your outdoor kitchen are going to need a thoughtful design layout. Urban Bonfire’s custom modular outdoor kitchen systems have many functional and esthetic options with a vast array of material, colour and finishing choices. The system was created to be compatible with all major outdoor cooking equipment brands, and each kitchen layout is configured to maximize outdoor storage and entertainment spaces.

Available through urbanbonfire.com

THE BIG CHILL

From refrigerated drawers and ice machines to beer taps and wine storage, Hestan Outdoor provides ways to keep your ingredients fresh and your guests refreshed.

Refrigerators and refrigerated drawers keep burgers or beverages handy. The wine refrigerator protects your wine from the elements with temperature zones for your reds and whites. And the ice machine produces up to 55 pounds of crystal-clear ice every 24 hours. So you’re always prepared for a couple dozen friends to drop by.

Available through Lansdowne Appliance Gallery and Capital Iron

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THAT’S AMORE

It’s not all about grilling meat and veggies.

Truly great pizza requires temperatures that conventional ovens can’t reach. Alfresco Grill’s Pizza Oven Plus reaches temperatures up to 1,000ºF, and its ceramic slab hearth and ceiling provides even radiating heat to give you the ideal balance of a thin, crisp base, and a perfectly charred artisan crust.

Available through Capital Iron

WHERE THERE’S SMOKE

Love the tradition of a charcoal grill? Available in a range of sizes, the kamado is an ancient, Asianstyle grill, a thick-walled cooker that imparts rich, smoky flavor to meats, fish and vegetables. With lump charcoal providing the fuel, hot air flows through the grill’s ceramic body and out its vented dome. Its multilevel, half-rack design frees you to cook different foods in different styles at different temperatures—all at the same time. The Stand-Alone model is easily installed in a custom outdoor kitchen.

Visit kamadojoe.com for local dealers

COOKING WITH FIRE

Each of Wolf’s four styles of outdoor gas grills use two types of heat, direct and radiant, to achieve the ideal temperature range and uniform heat distribution that are the keys to flawless grilling.

The grills are made from double-wall stainless steel and are precision-welded, so they don’t rust or hold water.

Available through Coast Appliances and Lansdowne Appliance Gallery

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BESPOKE D E S I G N

A COOKING REVOLUTION

If you’re a fan of cooking whole chickens and roasts, or roasting big baskets of vegetables, a rotisserie is an ideal add-on. Some models of Lynx’s free-standing and built-in grills come with a rotisserie system, with a dedicated burner and optional rotisserie basket. This means you can cook smaller dishes and sides while preparing your main dish — you can even use the basket to roast your own coffee beans.

Available through Trail Appliances

BE PREPARED No outdoor kitchen is complete without a prep area.

It cuts down on trips between your indoor and outdoor kitchens and lets you spend more time outside socializing with your guests while the meal is being readied.

Alfresco’s functional restaurant-inspired prep and

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plating stations enable flow as you prepare your food.

A crucial element for any kitchen is a sink, and Alfresco’s prep and hand sink features a stainless steel design with hot and cold faucets, a removable cutting board and a C-fold towel dispenser.

For a more complete setup,

Alfresco’s plating and garnish station includes food pans, a carving board and plate storage.

And for complete convenience, its prep and waster chute includes a poly cutting board that slides up to reveal a convienent trash disposal.

Available through Capital Iron

INSIDER INFO: The 3 Key Elements of Your Outdoor Kitchen According to Mike Black, owner of Capital Iron, there are only three pieces you really need for a functional outdoor kitchen — “everything else is gravy.”

For his own backyard, Mike Black worked with Waterform Designs. The kitchen features Alfresco equipment and granite from Colonial Countertops.

The cladding on the unit, a collaboration with Associated Sheet Metal, is a take on corten steel.

1. A quality built-in grill “This is where I advise people to put the most money — into the quality of their grill,” Black says. “There are great grills being handmade right here in North America. The higher quality ones are designed to last forever, and most manufacturers will replace the burners for as long as you own your grill. I rarely worry about BTUs — a higher rating isn’t always better. These grills are designed to give you good heat with the BTU output they have.”

2. Access to gas “Whether you do doors or a door/drawer combo, access to a gas connection is very important,” Black says. “The door/drawer option gives you some enclosed storage for your accessories and utensils.”

3. Built-in garbage system “Most people don’t want it at first, but nothing ruins the look of your outdoor kitchen like a green garbage bag tied to something or having a unsightly can sitting to one side.

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REAL ESTATE

BY SHANNON MONEO

SPRUCE TALKS TO LOCAL INDUSTRY SPECIALISTS TO GET THE INTEL ON MAKING MONEY THROUGH REAL ESTATE.

The insiders’ guide to property investment

C

oming off almost a decade of rapidly rising home values, buying real estate in Victoria has been considered a winning investment.

Whether it’s house flipping or buying multiple properties, there’s one foundational question: “How much can you afford to lose?” asks Chuck McNaughton, PFP, a Senior Wealth Advisor with Scotia Wealth Management, a division of Scotia Capital Inc. “Risk is always the disadvantage, in my opinion.”

Risks could include purchasing the wrong property, surprise expenses, buying with a shortterm horizon and rent payments that don’t cover mortgage payments.

“If you can’t afford the mortgage, you can’t keep it,” McNaughton cautions.

Rather sobering advice, but with almost 20 years of experience, McNaughton has seen how people think they can make a quick buck via real estate, but sometimes fail. They might not have sufficient capital, experience or time. And unexpected costs, such as a leaky roof, asbestos removal or trash-and-burn tenants, can transform what seemed like a good deal into a money pit.

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“In the end, it blows up on them,” McNaughton says from his Sidney office.

Tony Joe agrees. A RE/MAX Camosun realtor in Victoria since 1991, Joe has worked with clients who extract the equity from their own home and use the money to buy rental properties or secure loans to buy a house to upgrade and then flip.

“The successes that come to mind for me are those who held on for a long time,” Joe says, referring to when a 25-year mortgage is paid off, rental income is flowing in and equity in the home is full-fledged.

“That’s when you really see the benefit,” Joe says, adding that he’s always leery when investors think they can make a lot of money in a short time.

Like McNaughton, he’s seen what can happen when the timing is bad or someone overpays on a property, typically an older home with unforeseen problems, even after home inspections. And once renovations start, be very mindful of spending, Joe says. “Fancy faucets and fixtures don’t add a lot of value. Don’t over-renovate.”

THERE IS NO SECRET SAUCE While TV home shows make it seem easy,

“Everybody’s out there looking for a deal, but deals are rare indeed, especially in this town.” renovating is an expensive proposition that requires much oversight. Joe has had clients who went whole hog on the glitz and gloss and lost money because the market flattened or dropped.

And in Victoria’s busy market, where tradespeople are going full tilt, it means they are hard to find.

With high demand comes top dollar rates.

A secret sauce, to cook up a batch of profit, doesn’t exist, Joe adds.

“Everybody’s out there looking for a deal, but deals are rare indeed, especially in this town,” he says.

For example, when banks or lending companies accept one offer during foreclosure proceedings in court, the judge is obligated to allow other offers.

“There’s almost always a bidding war,” Joe

says, where prices usually settle at market value, with the unsettling aspect that a quick sale doesn’t include “subject to” conditions. And in addition to legal, mortgage and appraisal fees, real estate investments can be subject to a land transfer tax, GST, a capital gains tax and B.C.’s new speculation tax.

Because true deals are rare, real estate investing is a speciality that requires hard work, research, smarts and the ability to make savvy use of the bank’s money. Survivors build enough equity, which allows them to pay the minimum amount with their own funds.

McNaughton believes, “The people who do it have the time and inclination.”

Before

PUTTING IN THE SWEAT EQUITY The co-owners of Expansion Properties have been learning as they go. Elizabeth Milder and Cole Skelly own six Victoria properties; four are existing rentals, with a total of 11 units, and two are homes, being built from scratch, to be sold.

Expansion’s seed was planted in 2005 when Skelly bought a condo. A year later, he sold it for a profit and bought a Saanich house and added a basement suite that he rented. In 2013, he and Milder joined forces to form Expansion, buying another house to renovate and rent.

“We’ve established our niche,” Milder says.

“We look for properties that have the potential to add square footage. We find older homes to take from single-family to multi-unit rentals.”

For two of their properties, they excavated the basements, a very labour-intensive endeavour that gives new meaning to sweat equity. Not to mention that Milder continues a full-time job as a health and safety consultant.

Only last year did Skelly leave a full-time career, after working in Alberta and B.C. oilfields for 13 years.

Since their launch, when they were very hands-on and doing most of the reno work themselves, they’ve discovered that nurturing good relationships with tradespeople and renters is time and money-saving. Yet things can go wrong. Remediation costs, or even providing sufficient parking for multiple units, can become cost-prohibitive. So, be aware of municipal rules, Skelly advises. And know that the area’s numerous municipalities are inconsistent when interpreting guidelines.

“Understand that you have to go into this expecting the worst,” Milder warns, recalling one of their homes, where the basement had to be dug out, was mostly bedrock. “Have built-in contingencies. You have to be fluid.”

A contingency typically means having extra cash.

Milder and Skelly use the BRRRR method (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat). When they go to a bank for financing, they explain that their property was renovated to create more square footage, which, in turn, generates more rental income. A reappraisal

Elizabeth Milder and Cole Skelly of Expansion Properties purchased this Fernwood character home for $680,000 and put $415,000 into the renovations, digging out the basement to make it full height and converting the building into a fourplex for rentals.

The Lowdown on Investing in Rental Properties 1 Cash flow is your safety net.

Don’t bank only on property appreciation. Find a property where cash flows — or create one.

2 Run the numbers and err on the side of caution, accounting for all expenses, including a minimum three-per-cent vacancy rate, even when vacancy is low. There will always be surprises.

3 Build a solid team of experts: real estate agent, accountant, lawyer, insurance broker, mortgage broker and tradespeople. Don’t take them for granted!

shows that the property’s value has increased, generating more equity, which then frees money to pay debts and make a down payment for another property.

Still, the couple have their share of sleepless nights in the face of fluctuating financial rules like the mortgage stress test, finding suitable homes to buy and renovate via the MLS or door knocking and ferreting out investors.

“It doesn’t come easy,” Skelly says.

As McNaughton notes, it comes down to what you can afford to lose.

4 Quality over quantity.

Creating quality rentals units that you yourself would happily live in, will come back to you in spades. Your tenants will be happy and maintenance problems will be limited, which all contribute to a greater ROI. 5 Avoid problems by screening tenants thoroughly, listening to your gut and always maintaining the mindset that you’re running a business. Do not rent to the wrong person just to fill a vacancy.

Courtesy: Elizabeth Milder and Cole Skelly

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The covered deck, with its electric heaters and lighting, serves as additional living space where the homeowners can entertain year-round. It is shielded from the elements by a polycarbonate roof that allows natural light to penetrate.

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THE GARDEN SUITE LIFE

THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A CARRIAGE HOUSE OR GARDEN SUITE? DISCOVER THE PROCESS THROUGH THIS COLWOOD COUPLE’S UNDERTAKING TO MAXIMIZE THE POSSIBILITIES.

BY ALEX VAN TOL PHOTOS BY JOSHUA LAWRENCE

D

eyanira and Brian Mendoza Dominguez are no strangers to living intentionally.

Years ago the pair set their course as a couple with 10-, five- and one-year plans, which they review and revise every year as events unfold.

Working off this system, the couple downsized from their Vancouver condo to a basement suite and, in 2010, hit the road on their motorcycles. They travelled the continent for 26 months, camping and couch surfing everywhere from Alaska to Argentina to Cuba and Mexico, before returning to Victoria to set down roots.

They originally purchased a 1,500-square-foot townhouse and shared it with friends who were studying in Canada. But after their pals moved on, the two spare bedrooms bothered them.

“We have two rules we think about when buying,” says Brian. “Need and utility. If we have a threebedroom house and we’re only using one bedroom,

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all of a sudden we’ve got a question: Is that valuable?”

So they sold it and bought a 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Colwood.

But even that was too big. Deciding to make better use of the backyard than just mowing it, they resolved to build a garden home — for themselves. As for the main house? That would be rented out.

open, transparent communication about the project.

Elegant and simple, the garden suite — an “accessory dwelling” in Colwood-speak — took six months to build, from March to August 2017.

“This includes initiating, planning, executing, control and monitoring and closing,” says Deyanira.

A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

ALL IN THE DETAILS

The objective of the build was to live with no unused space while still feeling comfortable and being able to have guests over for dinner.

“One of the other objectives was for me to learn all the layers of building a house in Canada since I work in construction, and I am curious,” Deyanira says.

The pair have already built two buildings in Mexico — a single-family home and a triplex — but this project provided hands-on experience in Canada.

An engineer by training — she’s the chair of the Vancouver Island chapter of Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia — Deyanira designed the home meticulously with Brian’s input. The pair consulted Colwood at various stages in the process, starting with the proverbial sketch on a paper napkin. The municipality was helpful, and the couple feels that the end result was all the better for having had

Along with being the designer, Deyanira acted as project manager. The construction company she worked for at the time provided a carpenter and some equipment, and Brian, whose schedule was flexible since he was working on his PhD, contributed 50 per cent of the labour.

“I would come every evening to inspect, do some work myself, organize materials, clean up, ask questions and expect answers for the next day,” Deyanira says. She also took ten days off in the summer months to be more involved and to feed the workers.

“I love doing that.”

Key trades included Clemco for the mechanical work; Custom Pro Exteriors for siding work and drainpipes; Starline Windows for windows and doors; and Parker Johnston Industries for roofing work.

Brian acted as owner, creating a clear division of roles that made conversations

ELEGANT AND SIMPLE, THE GARDEN SUITE — AN “ACCESSORY DWELLING” IN COLWOOD-SPEAK — TOOK SIX MONTHS TO BUILD. The open-concept space features a kitchen with lots of built-in storage, including big drawers in the island. While the homeowners decided that a bar fridge was sufficient for their needs — and “forces them to buy fresh,” — a fullsize gas range was a priority.

“I can’t imagine cooking with electric power,” Deyanira says.

The unfinished concrete slab floor includes radiant heating.

Living small means the couple’s bedroom is open to the rest of the living space. “We looked at a Murphy bed but decided it wasn’t an investment we wanted to make,” Deyanira says. “We’re tidy anyway but now we’re forced to be. It also means we go out more.”

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THE DOMINGUEZES’ PLAN WAS TO BE FREE OF ANY DEBT FROM BUILDING THE GARDEN SUITE — AND ULTIMATELY MORTGAGE-FREE, TOO. between themselves, as well as with the contractor, much smoother.

The cost of building — all the way down to the coffee cups — was accounted for well before shovels hit dirt. A planner by nature, Deyanira compares the process to a road map.

“If you don’t plan the road map, you don’t have an idea of where you are going and what you’re going to find at the end,” she says.

“The dollar value of things should be truly considered before you start. You don’t want to have to borrow because you weren’t capable of purchasing everything you need in the home.”

The Dominguezes’ plan was to be free of any debt from building the garden suite — and ultimately mortgage-free, too.

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In the end, the home is lovely. A bed, closet, open kitchen and bathroom occupy about 400 square feet. In-floor heating offers warmth, while the high ceilings contribute a sense of openness. A 250-square-foot garage offers space for bikes, storage, a freezer and a work area, while a beautiful covered patio provides another 250 square feet of entertainment space, complete with heater and lights.

And it’s all part of the life plan: “We are constantly looking for opportunities to create a richer life,” Deyanira says, “but with less.”

Reflect your individual style with a professionally designed and installed landscape from Mary Haggerty Designs.

For the exterior of their garden suite, the homeowners chose metal flashings and HardiePlank cladding. “It is very durable,” Deyanira says. “And we wanted it to work with the look of the existing house.”

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

— CONFUCIOUS

Garden suite regulations around the region* Victoria (including Vic West) • Allowed in single-family zones; most lots, except for small lots (i.e., under 6,000 square feet), permit one garden suite • Development permit must be approved by staff; all necessary building permits in hand • Max height 3.5 metres • Max 400 square feet • Can’t be made into a strata • No additional parking requirements • If you have a suite in your home already, you’re not eligible.

• Victoria’s website on garden suites is informative and easy to understand; for more detail, look up its Garden Suites Policy and Guidelines at victoria.ca.

Colwood • Allowed in single-family zones; one per principal dwelling • Max height 4 or 7 metres, depending on how many storeys the accessory building has (if it exists already).

• Max square footage is 645 square feet or 40% of the floor area of the principal dwelling unit,

whichever is less • Can’t be made into a strata • Parking in the front yard can only happen if the total parking area doesn’t exceed 540 square feet (exclusive of the driveway).

Landscapes • Structures • Textiles

Cell 778.350.4101 Studio 250.800.0486 maryhaggertydesigns.com

Saanich • Only secondary suites are permitted, not garden suites.

• Saanich staff are developing a draft regulatory framework for garden suites; this should be available for public review sometime this year.

• You can sign up online for updates.

Esquimalt • Esquimalt is planning to consult with the community and residents, but there is a policy initiative to go forward with garden suites or “detached accessory building units” on appropriately sized lots.

Oak Bay • Only secondary suites are permitted, not garden suites. (Secondary suites can’t have full / family kitchens.)

*At press time

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FINISHING TOUCH

The Long View WITH SWEEPING PANORAMAS OVER THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA, THIS OUTDOOR SPACE EXEMPLIFIES COASTAL ELEGANCE.

When Don and Bev Sault first found the site for their new home, they sat on top of the rock outcrop, gazing at the view and felt a sense of “spiritual bliss.”

The entire home — indoors and out — was designed by the homeowners, who also worked on the build with local craftsmen.

“Don has the gifted ability to visualize what is not there and then to design something practical and make it happen,” Bev says. “He could see the home nestled between the large rock outcrop and a beautiful massive arbutus tree.”

A waterfall cascades down a large rock outcrop, wrapping around the koi pond and the infinity edge lap pool, which overlooks a rare arbutus forest across to the Olympic Mountains.

PHOTOS: HEATH MOFFATT

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