Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Joshua Lawrence.
Designed by architectural firm, de Hoog and Kierulf and custom built by Maximilian Huxley Construction Ltd, this 2,600-square-foot modern waterfront home was built to let the view sing. For this professional couple, making the most of their west-facing, Gonzales Bay property was about designing a modern home that blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living. At the top of their wish list, these frequent entertainers requested a minimalist modern kitchen leading to an expansive outdoor living area. Typical of a couple approaching an empty nest, another priority was creating a guest wing for their two grown sons. Capitalizing on sweeping vistas, one side of the upper level contains a spacious master suite and on the other side, separated by a generous hallway, includes a guest suite, sitting room, third bedroom and bath. Simple in form and design, with strong linear elements, this 3-bedroom plus den modern waterfront was built with its relationship to the natural surroundings in mind.
The only home on Vancouver Island to be entirely clad in Prodema panels, this natural wood skin has its own unique natural wood grain to seamlessly blend the exterior into the natural surroundings. “A highly durable product, mostly used in cold climates on high-rise buildings, Prodema offers protection from rain and sunlight and prevents water from penetrating walls,” states Huxley. For the rest of the exterior, Huxley blended coloured concrete with a burnished finish on it. “The more you polish it, the more burnish or colour variance you get so we continued to polish until the client got the colour they wanted,” adds Huxley. With a clean, modern aesthetic the two finishes merge to create a facade that is both natural and functional.
Replicating an Italian door the couple had been coveting, Huxley custom designed and built a door in a similar style to give the entrance a bold punch of colour and bit of a modern edge. At the request of the client, Huxley painted the door Hermès orange, reproducing the colour of the famous boutique’s notable gift boxes.
Once inside, guests are greeted by a floor-to-ceiling white ledgestone, dual-sided fireplace. Blending seamlessly with the white palette of the interior, the fireplace wall provides a modern feature piece with a grounding feel for the living area.
Stepping down into the living area, the awe is in the expansive view and generous-sized modern kitchen, built byJason Good. “For entertaining, the couple wanted an open plan kitchen complete with a stylish bar area where guests can visit and enjoy the view,” says Huxley. Reflective high gloss white cabinetry diffuses the natural light and maintains the modern aesthetic of the gallery-white walls. Contrasting the predominantly pale palette, walnut on the lower cabinets and island, softens the look to provide a natural elegant feel. Tempered glass backsplash with a light green hue adds a reflective pop of colour and echoes the colour of the surrounding sea.
Walls have literally disappeared in a sheet of glass, allowing the surrounding outdoor environment to become part of the living area. With an expanse of twenty-four feet of glass and a sophisticated sliding system, the glass doors open to create a sixteen foot opening to the outdoor living area. “Polished concrete flooring throughout the main floor heightens the modern look and hot water heating in the slab adds to the functionality for the chilly winter days. Continuing concrete to the outdoor seating area streamlines the flow to spill out into the outdoor living space,” Huxley adds. The picturesque terrace leading to a tiered landscape and concrete sea wall invites guests to amble down to the beach. What more could you ask for?
