Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Joshua Lawrence.
On the top floor of a 1960’s condo building, practically suspended over the shoreline in Oak Bay, this two bedroom unit enjoys a bird’s eye view of the Pacific Ocean across to Mount Baker. However, juxtaposed with the corner unit’s expansive vistas, the interior was dark, boxy and ready for an update. To bring the space back to life, the owner brought Jenny Martin Design on board to redesign the condo’s layout and stage it with furnishings and decor to get it market ready. Lead by Mari Kushino, the new design required gutting the entire space to create a more natural flow and bring in more light — the owner hired Chris Clark from Coast Prestige Homes for the job.
The coastal theme played in strong when it was time to decide on materials and finishes. Martin states that “the owner had an open concept vision but gave us carte blanche on all design and material decisions. His only major request was to remove walls to create a light and breezy open plan. Typical of the building’s original era, the kitchen was designed as a closed off area where you put your head down and went to work, so one of our primary objectives was to create an open concept that capitalized on the views from various vantage points.”
Responsible for all the millwork, Thomas Philips Woodworking built the kitchen cabinets and multifunctional workstation that serves as a computer station or coffee bar. (Note the vintage phone still necessary to buzz guests in). Flat-front white cabinetry keeps the kitchen streamlined and airy while the stained oak on the island grounds the light space and ties in with the rustic hardwood floor. “Pairing 100% recyclable estuario neolith backsplash with solid white quartz countertops brings the kitchen an airy west coast feel with a Scandinavian touch,” adds Martin.
To keep the kitchen feeling sleek, Martin’s team designed a hardworking island to span the entire length of the kitchen. “We wanted to avoid a typical condo-sized island that might feel too visually short and heavy in the middle of the room and of course, the sizeable island boosted the room’s storage and added seating for three comfortably.” The south-facing cooktop on the island allows the chef to interact with guests while enjoying unobstructed sight lines to the expansive views.
Staged by Martin and her team, the condo’s furnishings and decor demonstrate how the space can be an easy-living turn-key home that is comfortable, yet still stylish. The balance of luxury and comfort is most pronounced in the living room where the natural texture in the travertine feature wall reflects an abundance of natural light.
“Repurposed travertine from the original fireplace served as the living area’s jumping-off point for many of the condo’s finishes. We try to repurpose where we can and because travertine has gone full circle in trend we thought it would be perfect for the beachy contemporary look we were trying to achieve.” Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter on the walls keeps the airy space warm and inviting. Large corner windows saturate the home in natural light while the wrap around deck with glass railing keep sight lines open.
Reconfiguring the master bedroom and ensuite allowed Martin’s team to expand the space to include an intimate sitting area by the fireplace, a more spacious ensuite with plenty of storage and ample room for two in the walk-in closet.
Boosting the master bedroom’s functionality, Thomas Philips Woodworking created concealed storage with touch latch cabinetry in the feature wall. The warmth of the walnut wall and gas fireplace gives the room a cozy beachfront feel.
Martin adds that “because our client was renovating the condo for resale, we wanted to ensure he was making smart budgetary decisions. We managed to give the walk-in closet a custom feel with rods, shelving and built-in drawers without blowing the budget on wall-to-wall custom millwork.”
Quartz-top, dual-sink vanity in walnut with more cabinets and open shelving on the opposite side keep practicality high in this master ensuite. The expansive mirror and glass tile backsplash reflect light to help the small space feel visually more spacious. Porcelain tile flooring continues up the shower wall for a cohesive coastal feel.
