Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Joshua Lawrence and Derek Ford.
There’s nothing like the surprise news of twins on the way to launch a family of three into a series of logistical adjustments. For Jason Good‘s family, it wasn’t simply a matter of investing in a double stroller and a larger vehicle; they needed a new home to accommodate the imminent growth of their family of five. Deciding immediately to sell their Oaklands home, the Good family viewed at least eighty open houses in search of the right one. As a master cabinet and furniture builder, Good pays close attention to detail. It was up to Good and his three-year-old daughter to find a new home and keep the stress levels to a minimum, an oxymoron considering the circumstances.
With unobstructed views of Mount Douglas to the Blenkinsop Valley, Good found the perfect 1970’s raised rancher perched on a verdant hill in the Cedar Hill Cross area. With only ten weeks before the birth of their twin boys, Good and his team completely renovated the spacious rancher. Four days before the boys were born the rancher renovation was complete, and the family could prepare the house for the twins’ arrival. This timeline is enough to make anyone’s heart palpitate, but reflecting over this process with Good, it is evident he is efficient, precise, and does not ruffle easily.
At 2500-square-feet, this 1973 raised rancher wasn’t necessarily bigger than their previous home, but the open concept was more suitable for three children under the age of four. Walnut built-ins in the living area keep toys organized and add personalized space with family photographs.
Surrounded by lush greenery, Good designed a generous-sized kitchen to enhance the relationship between the kitchen and the natural surroundings. Oversized windows and skylights flood the entire space with natural light. Clean lines and simple white materials with wood accents reflect the natural landscape and allow the eye to travel to the windows. As regular hosts, the Good’s included a 36-inch Wolf range for the ultimate cooking experience. An oversized industrial faucet adorns the main sink for style and water efficiency. The island seats five comfortably and the custom built picnic-style table in the dining area accommodates up to twelve.
Bright white with bold grey veining, Italian Calacatta marble was used for the ceiling-height backsplash. To complement the marble, two-and-a-half inch stainless countertops, with a seamless welded sink, add to the clean, contemporary finish.
The couple wanted a well lived-in kitchen, and with three children, they let go of the idea of immaculate perfection. Stainless is durable and resilient – resistant to heat, water, and stains. “The stainless already has some scratches and a solid wood bar is designed to withstand nicks and scratches. “All I would have to do is sand it out and put a little more oil on it, no big deal,” smiles Good.
“We built the island based on the dimensions of a 100% recyclable arctic white Neolith slab. We were trying to capitalize on the length of the kitchen and at that time Neolith came in 12 foot slabs so we designed the island around 11×6 feet of Neolith so they could trim both ends,” says Good. Once the Neolith was in, the wood was built around it. As Good states, “there is a misconception out there that thin countertops are cheap; we wanted to prove that this wasn’t the case with Neolith. Not only is the product durable and environmentally sound, it is of high quality and offers a refined finish.”
American Walnut with a flat sliced grain match on the eating bar brings an organic feel to the contemporary kitchen. Engineered Oak flooring adds to the clean, modern look and is a striking contrast to the walnut.
Eames molded plastic armchair compliments Good’s custom built walnut dining table and benches.
To capitalize on the natural light and to keep the family connected, dual work stations were added to the open plan kitchen.
Obligatory, well-used, coffee bar for the parents to keep pace with a thriving business, twin boys, and a pre-schooler. When reflecting on what the future holds for their family home, other than the hope for sleep-filled nights, Good muses that the next project will be to landscape the yard and make the most of the views by adding Nano doors leading to a fifteen-by-sixty foot covered patio with outdoor kitchen.
