Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Jody Beck.
From the sidewalk, it would be easy to assume this 2900-square-foot home is one of Oak Bay’s restored turn-of-the-century charmers. Within walking distance of the heart of Oak Bay Avenue, the contemporary new buildseamlessly merges a look of preserved history with innovative design. Cedarshake, frieze board trim, fir soffits and rafter tails on the exterior make a contemporary west coast statement without eclipsing the century-old allure of the neighbourhood. Once inside, the ARYZE Developments custom-built four-bedroom home makes an architectural gesture that firmly establishes the home in the 21st century.
Built to last with aesthetic appeal, ARYZE Developments strives to build homes that are unique and reflect the natural surroundings of their neighbourhoods. “Our intent was to make each room in this home special and leverage some of the qualities that really make ARYZE unique,” says Matty Jardine, founder and a managing partner of ARYZE Developments. Keeping function, durability and performance in mind, the intention was to integrate elements that would make every room noteworthy and to consider how the future homeowner would interact with the home.
Ryan Hoyt of Ryan Hoyt Designs and ARYZE’s Matthew Jardine push the design envelope with a hybrid design scheme that boasts soaring eighteen-foot ceilings, exposed reclaimed dock wood beams and a stylish gourmet kitchen. The showstopper is the unique tempered glass wall surround office that graces the front of the house. The goal of the creative collaboration was to design an open concept home fusing contemporary design with traditional character to create comfortable, private spaces in a bright and airy home.
If the front door speaks to what you can expect inside, then the custom built solid oak door is communicating on point. Earthy hues offer guests a warm west coast welcome and reflect the natural elements of the interior. Once inside, the exposed reclaimed wood coffered ceilings firmly plant the home on the west coast and provide a rustic counterpoint to the clean, monochromatic palette of the home.
ARYZE procured most of the two-by-ten cedar planks that were pulled from the Pacific Ocean during the moorage rebuild project at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Cadboro Bay. After floating in the ocean for over fifty years, the untreated natural cedar dock wood was found completely healthy and has since been used in several of ARYZE’s projects including these coffered ceiling beams and the recent design/build at Patagonia in Victoria.
Open concept gourmet kitchen enjoys a wall oven, gas cooktop, eat-in kitchen island and quartz countertops. Industrial pendant lights in polished nickel from Restoration Hardware add a touch of bling to offset the rustic wood beams. Dramatic grey veining in the marble backsplash adds interest while seamlessly fusing the black countertops with the white cabinets.
An intimate two story living area with gas fireplace overlooks the private backyard. Wide plank white oak floors add to the light and airy contemporary feel with a rustic edge. Elegant and durable, oak flooring keeps the aesthetic casual and inviting.
Glass and dark wood railing overlooks the living area keeping sight lines unobstructed while flooding the upstairs with natural light.
Hard-wearing porcelain tile flooring reflects the look of marble for the spacious side entrance. Floor-to-ceiling built-ins with ample storage add to the functionality of the home by keeping clutter at bay.
Upstairs offers three bedrooms with nine-foot ceilings and a spacious master bedroom with walk-in closet and five-piece spa-like ensuite with a soaker tub. Thanks to new compact and quieter washing machines and dryers, the upstairs laundry room is a welcomed feature and adds to the home’s practicality.
