Carefully considering the site’s stunning lakefront view, this custom-built residence is constructed on a slope overlooking the cerulean waters of a popular lake on Vancouver Island. With fishing, fitness and culinary pursuits at the centre of their design mandate, the couple credit Città Group with building the quintessential lakefront retreat.
With an eye to the future, the professional couple requested a comprehensive design that would support active living and entertaining well into their retirement. This four bedroom, four bathroom 4400-square-foot home enjoys a profusion of angles and staggered rooflines with windows spanning the entire front of the house. The outside-in ethos is most pronounced on the front of the home, boasting three decks including a wrap-around patio off the kitchen and stairs leading down to the beach.
The homeowners turned to Deborah Patterson, principal interior designer at Città Group, to fashion a traditional design with a contemporary edge. “Their requests were simple: they wanted a comfortable beach house feel with a timeless appeal,” states Patterson. With a penchant for traditional design, the design-savvy couple were gently nudged by Patterson to go a little further with contemporary finishes in order to bring the home a more airy beach house vibe.
Nothing was overlooked in this carefully appointed lakefront home: an open plan for entertaining, an expansive deck for alfresco dining, a wine tasting room, den, recreation room and the piece de resistance for the wife, a workout room and for the husband, a space for fishing prep. Balancing a luxurious sensibility with casual comforts, the design incorporates materials that are natural and durable to stand the test of time.
To temper the angular lines of the home’s architecture, gentle curves in the flooring transitions are reiterated throughout the home to mimic the rippling water on the lake.
The homeowners chose wide-plank, walnut barn wood to set the tone for this rustic west coast dwelling. Embracing the country feel of the walnut flooring as a jumping off point, Patterson incorporated a range of diverse materials in a warm, natural palette. The walnut with metal inlay and natural stone wrapped wood-burning fireplace becomes the great room’s striking focal point. The soft wave of the stone reflects the motion of the lake and gives the surround a relaxed contemporary edge.
Custom-built by Città Group, the natural wood coffee table was constructed from 7-inch raw slabs.
The open concept with the great room’s vaulted ceilings creates an airy feel and begets an ideal layout for entertaining. French doors leading to the patio allow guests to spill out onto the deck to enjoy alfresco dining overlooking the lake.
In this award-winning chef’s kitchen, Patterson avoided a stark monochromatic look and brought in bold contrasts to complement the white cabinetry. “Cooking is so important to the owner that she bought the Blue Star gas range before the house was even built. The copper accents throughout the home were inspired by a single copper handle on the oven.” Running with the tawny metallic theme, Patterson chose an iridescent tile with copper-based hues behind the hood fan and a striking copper cladding on the island.
Thoughtfully tailored to the owner’s love of everything culinary, Patterson’s design included a built-in espresso station, eat-in island with prep sink, apron-style farm sink overlooking the lake, built-in microwave, concealed refrigerator and an expansive walk-in pantry. Quartz countertops in smokey grey ground the white cabinetry and provide a durable surface for this hardworking kitchen.
Hardwearing glass aggregate in poured concrete offers a classic terrazzo look and echoes the natural stone used throughout the home.
One of the design’s most coveted features is the expansive walk-in pantry for the uber-organized chef.
Città Group’s custom-built farmhouse table takes centre stage in this spacious dining area. Handwoven rattan chairs from Restoration Hardware bring an inviting and casual atmosphere to this gathering space.
Patterson brought the wow-factor to the lower-level with a private wine tasting room that would make any oenophile swoon.
For a touch of serenity, Patterson assembled a monochromatic palette in the master bedroom using neutral sand tones. With a private deck overlooking the lake, the bedroom is nestled under a white tongue and groove ceiling to embrace an inviting cottage look.
A gorgeous soaker tub with a sweeping view of the lake is the jewel in this spa-inspired ensuite. Dual vanities in walnut boost the bathroom’s functionality and the stone inlay flooring brings a luxurious beach vibe to this peaceful retreat.
With stairs leading down to the beach, the private patio from the main floor feels suspended amid the trees giving this lakefront house a luxurious treehouse feel.
