Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Leanna Rathkelly.
By building a custom home on their three-acre property that they’d been living on for a decade, this Vancouver Island couple started fresh on familiar land. After buying the property in 2005, the homeowners with grown children were content in their modest one-bedroom house and cherished their lush property with valley views. But the home was in need of extensive maintenance and was starting to impede their lifestyle. After looking at homes in the Greater Victoria area, the couple was equipped with a consolidated wishlist and resolved to build a custom home. Familiar with the work of Falcon Heights Contracting through friends, they turned to the experienced builders to create a 3600 square-foot contemporary farmhouse where the countryside meets timeless comfort and style.
The owners hired Robert Fisher Design to create a traditional facade with a contemporary open-plan interior that would allow them to age in place. The couple’s design goals were straightforward. They wanted the exterior to echo the home’s beautiful surroundings and also, complement the aesthetic of the garage they had already built. Bold blues and timber accents are a nod to the home’s location on the island where the Pacific Ocean meets the forest. They wanted a functional home that felt cozy for two and would be spacious enough to welcome family and friends. Connection to the home’s beautiful surroundings also played a significant role in deciding on entries, balconies, windows and skylights. For the couple to age in place, the entire house is wheelchair accessible with all entries on grade as well as a master bedroom on the main floor with a curbless, glassless master shower.
Built by Splinters Millworks, “the kitchen is definitely a highlight of the home,” says Joelle Bienvenue of Falcon Heights Contracting. A quintessential culinary kitchen, the functional work triangle with ample counter space keeps the chef top of mind while the generous island considers the couple’s friends and family. The marriage of woods and warm blues creates an inviting atmosphere that summons guests to relax and linger. Marble countertops in steel blue were quarried on Vancouver Island and reiterate the colour scheme that runs throughout the home. The maple wood island with navy blue base anchors the space and maintains the home’s natural feel.
Concealed appliances keep the area streamlined and include the fridge, dishwasher and freezer drawers. A gas stove with griddle and double oven are perfect for holiday entertaining.
Panoramic views of the home’s verdant surroundings can be enjoyed from the great room’s open plan that includes the dining area. Bienvenue states that “the thoughtfully harmonized woods bring an organic and homey aesthetic to the open concept. Engineered white oak flooring, Douglas fir feature wall and railings, glulam fir beams and Douglas fir front door merge to bring the home its farmhouse charm.”
Main floor laundry room adjacent to the master bedroom preserves the home’s efficient flow and allows the couple to age in place.
Conveniently located on the main floor, the master bedroom enjoys a spa-like ensuite and private outdoor patio. All three of the home’s bedrooms are connected to outdoors with gorgeous balconies overlooking the valley.
Designed as a peaceful retreat for the couple, the master bedroom and ensuite boast a lounge area with fireplace, free standing tub, glassless shower and double exterior access with a hot tub nearby.
Bienvenue adds that the built-in library at the top of the stairs plays double duty as a special place for their children’s book collection for future grandchildren and to conceal access to the attic space.
“The owners absolutely love their space, particularly how we capitalized on the views and access to the outdoors is maximized with several entries. The livability factor is high, the open concept is conducive to family life and the layout was thoughtfully designed to take them into the future.”
