Words by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Ema Peter.
Just a few steps from the shoreline, this custom-built dwelling appears like a two-level residence from the street side while it unfolds like a wave from the entry to a panoramic vista of Cadboro Bay. Designed by Chris Foyd of Bo Form and built by Billy Thistle of Point Break Developments, the 5400 square foot private residence maximizes its coastal location in a beach-toned palette that embraces a warm and sophisticated minimalism.
Canadian educated, Danish-registered architect, Foyd, draws inspiration from the natural elements found on the shoreline combined with his Belgian design sensibility for honouring the landscape and emphasizing a sense of place through material integrity. They say the third time’s a charm, so this just might be the favoured design of the three that Foyd has done for the couple, originally from Edmonton.
“The owner and I stood on the beach looking at the sun-bleached driftwood logs in front of the site of the original house and I said there’s our inspiration,” says Foyd, pointing to the horizontal plane of bleached cedar piled on the beach. He adds that the design is basically two boxes bridged by a glass box in the middle with massive glazed elements.
Point Break Developments was heavily involved in the project from the initial phases when the original 1960’s home on the property was shipped on a barge to Sechelt rather than demolished. Thistle was responsible for coordinating the move and consulted with a biologist before removing the house because of the ecologically and archaeologically sensitive area.
“When Chad Falkenberg, interior designer from Falken Reynolds, came over from Vancouver to see the foundation work, we started to talk about creating furniture-grade concrete pieces for the interior and exterior,”says Thistle, who adds that the owners’ had a clear vision to incorporate durable raw materials like concrete and local woods into a modern, open-plan interior that would embrace the sea views from every room.”
Clad in locally harvested and milled western red cedar with hemlock soffits, the home’s exterior transitions beautifully to the interior with light hemlock ceilings that extend all the way through to the outdoor BBQ area. Think Sea Ranch retreat on the coast of California as material inspiration, with naturally bleached cedar paired with concrete and light oak millwork to reflect the waterfront seagrass landscape.
Built by Thistle’s team, the lap pool was formed and poured on site along with all the hardscaping the team built around the top-of-the-line jet lap pool. The Point Break team also built multiple concrete benches, a concrete fireplace hearth and concrete floors with in-floor radiant heat. “The concrete clad STUV fireplace is one of my favourite features and makes the room feel intimate despite the open plan and 11 foot ceilings,” says Thistle.
The main floor of the residence offers an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, three bedrooms including the primary, as well as a study, powder room and mudroom. Two more bedrooms complete the lower level with a home gym, media room and a rec room that all open onto the jet pool, outdoor kitchen and direct access to the beach.
A panoramic sliding door system from Europe connects the kitchen to the BBQ area where Jason Good of Jason Good Custom Cabinets continued the Corioin clad lower cabinets and the counter in quartz with a bush-hammered Vancouver Island marble backsplash– suitable materials for both interior and exterior.
Pared down materials in gray, white and woods, like hemlock ceilings and oak furniture throughout create a tranquil mood in harmony with the home’s beachfront setting. In the kitchen, the solid quarter-inch stainless steel counter on the kitchen island provides a durable surface that will add character as it patinas. Its thin profile pairs perfectly with the Caesarstone counters and Corian casework.
Jason Good was the lead on the home’s meticulous millwork and states that, “the kitchen millwork was constructed to look more like a solid block of wood rather than individual cabinets.” The kitchen is done in a blend of mixed grain European white oak with a heavy brushing finish to enhance the texture of the wood grain. Handleless, bi-fold pocket doors in the kitchen keep appliances and accessories concealed to maintain the streamlined aesthetic. A solid surface that resembles stone, the low-sheen Corion fronts on the lower kitchen cabinets are durable and add to the seamless look.
Over the island, a custom steel pendant by Broadwell Metal illuminates the work surface and reflects light upward onto the wood ceiling. A thin wood frame encases the tall cabinets and ovens, concealing touch-to-open refrigeration and a large appliance garage. Reflecting the sea hues, blue Bocci 73.v pendants light the dining area.
In the primary bathroom, oak millwork by Good and his team fits meticulously around a single block of Vancouver Island white marble. “Cohesion was integral to this project to create a minimalist look without handles, seams and anything that would distract from the home’s purpose, to enhance the views,” says Good, who built a full wardrobe in the primary bedroom to appear like a wall of wood rather than individual cabinet doors and drawers. “All doors are full height to appear like an extension of the window,” says Good. Verde Alpi marble in the primary bathroom deviates from the neutral palette to mirror the regional sea and forest greens.
The dwelling tells a sustainable, local story where the material ‘miles’ were carefully considered to create a neutral canvas that would allow the family’s collection of bold Canadian art to take centre stage. Danish and Italian modernist furniture paired with Good’s rift cut oak millwork adds warmth and character to the spaces.
Broadwell Metal crafted extensive metal work for the home from the fireplace surround to the stainless steel kitchen island counter as well as the blackened pendant over the island, all fabricated locally rather than importing off-the-shelf products.
Even the mudroom breathes the function and form as one sentiment where the bright utilitarian space adopts the clean, handless appearance. Thistle states that “the mudroom is a high traffic area incorporating durable, low-sheen surfaces of Fenix laminate, Corian and concrete that allow clutter to be concealed while the faucet at the dog dish offers convenience.” Good adds that the millwork angles weren’t straightforward in this room but were perfected to create a clean feel with honest materials.
Adding to the special features in the home, the window seat in the primary bedroom provides a cozy reading nook surrounded by warm oak and linen with views to the bay, complemented with a leather Cassina Cab bed and Tomnuk wall sconce. Skylights in the shower and over the vanity diffuse natural light into the primary ensuite. An intentionally placed shower head allows views of the bay through the bedroom while the tub also has beach and water views out of a mitred corner window.
Generous amounts of thoughtfully integrated glazing warms the interior with the coastal sun and highlights the views of the beachfront landscape. By recognizing and nurturing the coastal landscape elements, Foyd designed an approachable west coast aesthetic with his refined and iconic nordic influence.
