Building a home from the ground up, especially during a pandemic, is no small feat but for Justine Gill and Jamie Gill at Seba Construction, their combined years of design/build experience and highly-skilled team made this project a seamless one.
Clad in fresh white brick, the custom-built home integrates beautifully in the established neighbourhood with the help of its elegant half-circle driveway and stately charm. About 18 months from start to finish, the build represents a confluence of contemporary New-England style architecture and coastal California cool.
Justine worked closely with Tim Rodier From Outline Home Design on a transitional design that would work for their family while ensuring that the architecture would blend seamlessly within the Uplands residential vernacular.
“We considered several styles from French Colonial to Cape Cod and finally landed on a unique blend of timeless elements that speak to our own aesthetic,” states Justine. The Gills gathered most of their inspiration from elegant white brick homes in California that dot the coast and represent an intermingling of various coastal styles. Defined by clean lines and symmetry, the home effortlessly dovetails classic features with modern living.
“I don’t want to regret any design decisions ten years from now,” says Justine, who envisioned the show stopping staircase as the focal point of the house. “It’s the first thing you see when you walk in so I wanted it to draw you in with its beautiful details and set the tone for the rest of the home.”
Wow factor aside, the Parisian-inspired balustrade staircase (think: Chloe headquarters in Paris) was crafted by Broadwell Metal and Andrew Philp from AP Woodworks who built the entire curved staircase on site.
“The initial staircase design called for two curved staircases to access both the basement and upper levels from the main floor, each one above the other” says Philp. However, during construction, a change was made to make the lower staircase which meant that the 24-foot outside radius of the main level to the upper floor staircase would have to be self-supporting. Philp added that “we laminated many layers of plywood to build up a three-inch-wide curved stair stringer on site which turned out extremely sturdy, even exceeding expectations.”
Philp and his team were tasked with tailoring a detailed trim package and provided the owners with multiple, full-scale mock-ups to choose from. In addition to the curved staircase, AP Woodworks did all the interior finish carpentry, including the detailed ceilings and beam work, wall paneling, multiple feature walls while teaming with Thomas Phillips Woodworking on the concealed built-in cabinetry which was integrated into the wall paneling.
“The kitchen is my absolute favourite space,” states Justine, who emphasizes that it had to function efficiently and be an inviting, multi-purpose space. Thomas Phillips Woodworking created a host of millwork elements to conceal the Sub Zero Wolf appliances, ample storage, a concealed pantry and coffee nook. Not to mention, they built the two multi-purpose islands to complete the culinary kitchen.
Lido Statuario Quartz countertops and backsplash create a cohesive appearance and paired with a Kohler undermount farmhouse sink and polished chrome House of Rohl faucets offer a luxurious, European vibe.
The transitional design enjoys many moments of quiet pause like the great room with coffered ceilings centred around the cozy fireplace that features sliding doors to the backyard and pool deck. Florence style oak hardwood in a herringbone pattern with linear borders provides a unified feel on the main floor.
Upstairs, the master bedroom is a spa-like retreat for the busy couple complete with a private sitting area, ensuite with soaker tub, sauna and an enviable walk-in closet with impressive millwork by Thomas Phillips Woodworking. The girls’ rooms are equally as special where behind identical bookshelves they enjoy a secret shared space to meet for movie night.
On the lower level, the media room and adjoining bar open up to the backyard that has become the primary focus for the family. The pool gets used almost daily in the summer and the gazebo area with outdoor kitchen has become a real hallmark of the design. The gym, basketball half-court and putting green emphasize the family’s love of sport and active outdoor living.
But don’t be fooled, the traditionally-informed design says nothing of the modern, state-of-the-art automated system from lighting to heating/cooling features, curtains and garage that can all be controlled from anywhere by the owners’ phones. The overall effect is graceful and contemporary, a beautiful blend of classic meets California cool in this Uplands neighbourhood.
