Article by Adrienne Dyer. Photos by Jody Beck.
In this Cadboro Bay beachfront home, built by brothers Graeme and Trevor Mann of GT Mann Contracting, design elements that echo the colours and textures of the seaside visually blend the house into the landscape to create a modern, West Coast retreat where the owners feel connected to their natural surroundings.
The home’s coastal atmosphere begins with the curb appeal of driftwood-toned exterior siding, stonework and roof lines reminiscent of an ocean wave. A cascading water feature draws visitors up the front steps to a five-by-nine-foot custom pivot hinge door, which opens into an expansive interior that carries on the colour scheme of sand and weathered wood.
Hits of turquoise in the artwork and furniture stand out against the soft grey walls and concrete floors like beach glass in the sand. Radiant in-floor heat adds warmth underfoot, while live-edge wood features, like the fireplace mantles and the dining table, add visual warmth, texture and a hint of the wildness outside.
“The original house on this property was sitting 25 feet closer to the water’s edge than new setbacks allow,” says Graeme Mann, “so we built on a portion of the old foundation to keep the new home as close to the waterfront as possible.” With the beach literally on its doorstep, Mann says the entire home is designed to allow the owners to enjoy their spectacular seaside setting year round.
A wall of windows offers sweeping views from the master bedroom, which opens onto a balcony overlooking the patio below. The main floor dining room opens onto an outdoor seating area. It provides protection from the elements, via sliding glass panels that enclose the space. Additional seating by the outdoor fireplace offers a spot to curl up on when the weather’s nice, while the hot tub and swim jet pool complement the dedicated gym inside the garage.
