Article by Adrienne Dyer. Photos by Jody Beck.
Perhaps what makes this Lochside waterfront home most striking is that every detail is a testament to the craftsmanship of the builders, Ian Baker and Doug Sadler of East Bay Developments, and the careful planning by husband and wife design duo, Mike and Lisa Dunsmuir of Step One Design.
“We spent a lot of time on this property looking at sight lines at different times of day,” says Baker, who adds that the property faces East towards Mount Baker and Sidney Island, with nighttime views of the lights of Sidney. “The challenge was to build as wide as we could on the lot to maximize the home’s interior space.”
With that in mind, Step One Design set to work to capture their clients’ vision of a three bedroom, English Arts and Crafts- style dream home. All the main rooms face the water, with an interior layout carefully designed to maximize natural light throughout the day.
“The house gets morning sun from the East, but the windows in the front entrance and hallway bring light into the home later in the day,” says Mike. Skylights in the deck roof prevent shadowing in the kitchen, while the lower patio sits slightly nestled into the ground for protection from the elements without blocking views from inside.
Although modest in size, the home is filled with clever design features tailored to enhance the homeowner’s lifestyle. A thermo-controlled wine room houses a unique collection of fine wines, and a custom-designed workshop downstairs stores fishing gear, kayaks and dirt bikes with a ramp alongside the house for easy access. There is also a yoga room and a dog bath and mudroom for the couple to hose down their pooch after walks on the beach.
One of the most exquisite features of the house is the hand-nailed cedar shingles with lapped corners, expertly crafted and installed by Baker. Natural stone, tapered columns and curved knee braces handcrafted by Baker complete the home’s elegant exterior. Together with breezy interior spaces dressed in natural textures, materials and colours, this modern take on the classic Arts and Crafts home enhances seaside life with a design and build that showcases attention to detail.
