Houzz Tour: Ocean Views Exhilarate on the Sunshine Coast
Expansive gable windows and French doors offer an uninterrupted vista of the Pacific in this bright British Columbia A-frame
Houzz Contributor. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I found myself utterly unprepared for the real world and at a loss as to what I should do next. Luckily, one day I stumbled through the doors of Architectural Digest and was taken under the wing of legendary editor Paige Rense. She had the vision to look past my uninspiring sociology degree and my general lack of experience—an unlikely journalism career was born. After AD, with my magazine karma still intact, I was hired by yet another publishing legend, the food critic and writer Ruth Reichl. I currently ply my trade as a freelance writer and editor and live in stylish Mid-Century-Modern comfort with my dog, Mike.
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British Columbia is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. So it makes perfect sense that just a short ferry ride from Vancouver, a coastal home would wrap its arms around its surroundings. "The owners wanted some timber frame and natural elements to tie it in with the site and felt that it should be a low-profile structure from the road," says architect Kevin Simoes of Streamline Design. "They wanted a beautiful home on the inside but didn't feel the need to showcase that from the street."
They went with a simple A-frame and incorporated timbers for most of the structural components. Simoes' design was restricted by the narrow lot, which has setbacks on three sides, including the ocean side. "The site really dictated what we could do in regard to the footprint and layout of the house," he says.
Working with designer Jonalyn Siemens, he created a minimalist yet charming getaway that's beautiful inside and out.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a weekend retreat for a designer and her husband.
Location: Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia
Size: 3,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The home was built with a sustainably harvested Douglas fir timber frame and has a metal roof and a rainwater collection system.
They went with a simple A-frame and incorporated timbers for most of the structural components. Simoes' design was restricted by the narrow lot, which has setbacks on three sides, including the ocean side. "The site really dictated what we could do in regard to the footprint and layout of the house," he says.
Working with designer Jonalyn Siemens, he created a minimalist yet charming getaway that's beautiful inside and out.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a weekend retreat for a designer and her husband.
Location: Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia
Size: 3,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The home was built with a sustainably harvested Douglas fir timber frame and has a metal roof and a rainwater collection system.
| An open great room, dining room and kitchen comprises a big part of the main level. "It's very popular with us to design this way and join all these open spaces," says Simoes. "In this particular house, it allowed the great room and dining room to be slightly smaller than we would normally make them but still feel like they have more volume than they actually do." Dining table: Restoration Hardware; chairs: The Other Room; chandelier: Halo, Roost; sectional sofa: Willow Studio; mermaid sculpture: Alisa Shebib; fireplace: handmade aggregate tile, Solus Vancouver |
| Seven French doors open up the living space to the exterior. The floors throughout are engineered maple from Lauzon. Bar stools: Pier 1 imports, draped with sheepskin; pendant: Hudson Valley lighting, Luminosa Light Design; windows, doors: Dynamic Windows |
| An aggregate concrete path leads to the entrance. A door to the mudroom is off to the right. The exterior is Douglas fir timber frame made without the wood's heart. Simoes explains that because wood shrinks and expands, you don't want to work with the heart, or center pith, of the wood. Nonheart wood is less likely to expand, contract or twist over time. Timber frame: West Coast Log Homes |
| The beams and posts are Douglas fir timbers. A floating staircase leading to the loft level is also Douglas fir and has a steel and cable railing. A similar railing leads to the lower level, which contains two bedrooms, a rec room, a wine room and a media room. |
| Moveable portholes are fun features that help provide ventilation, as there aren't many operable windows on the front of the house. |
| The kitchen features high-gloss white Euro cabinetry by Merit Kitchens, a stainless steel square tile backsplash from Custom Flooring and KitchenAid appliances (with the exception of a Miele dishwasher). |
| The homeowners plan to use the upstairs loft as a sitting area and library. Another area of this room contains a wall of built-in bookshelves. |
| “Normally we wouldn’t put this kind of beam structure in a space where only the vertical post is needed,” says Simoes. “But we wanted to add additional visual interest, and the beamwork helps to define the kitchen space, not only when you’re down below looking up, but also when you're up in the loft looking down.” He integrated the structural post that supports the ridge beam into the kitchen island. “Rather than have a stand-alone post, we wanted to incorporate it into the island to give it a little bit more mass and to ground it.” |
| The master bedroom is on the main level, and you can see through the two-way fireplace into the great room. Custom bed: Vincent Lang Furnishings; bedding, cushions, rug: Designers Guild; pendant lamps: Luminosa Light Design; standing lamp: Adesso; sofa, ottoman, draperies: custom by Jonalyn Siemens |
| We wanted the master bathroom tub to be the focal point of the room," says Simoes. "The owners love to sit here and feel like they're on the ocean." Bathtub, sink: Ravello, Victoria and Albert; bathtub fixtures: Axor Massaud, Hansgrohe |
| The simple yet luxurious finishes in the master bath include polished travertine tiles atop the vanity. Mirrors: Restoration Hardware; sconces: Hudson Valley lighting, Luminosa Light Design; sink fixtures: Axor Massaud, Hansgrohe |
| The homeowners wanted to keep the master bathroom as open as possible. Sliding doors open to the bedroom, and picture windows provide a view of the ocean from the shower. Shower walls: limestone; floor: pebble tiles, Ecolfor; fixtures: Axor, Hansgrohe |
| Practical and visually appealing, the mudroom with laundry has a Caesarstone countertop and loads of storage. |
| This is one of two guest bathrooms on the lower level. Shower tile: polished ceramic, Olympia Tile; sinks, sink fixtures: Ronbow; mirrors: Home Depot; sconces: Hudson Valley lighting, Luminosa Light Design; shower fixtures: Hansgrohe |
| The cedar back deck runs the entire 45-foot length of the house. Deck furniture: Costco; fire pit: Solus Vancouver |
| A log staircase from the main floor deck leads down to a gazebo and a path to the ocean. |
Ideabook published on Jan. 1, 2013.
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I was very curious about the MBR, which opens onto what looks like a deck .. but appears to have no railing at all? Another photo looks like the railing has clear panels between the stanchions .. but perhaps the photo team decided to remove them to improve the views for the article? Visually that may look better, but is kind of irresponsible .. like showing cyclists without helmets.
That's interesting: The home was built with a sustainably harvested Douglas fir timber frame and has a metal roof and a rainwater collection system. "
And give absolutely no details about either supposedly interesting point.
How does the rainwater system work, and how are they storing it?
The exterior deck railings are tempered glass panels and were not removed for the photos. Also the photos have not been altered or enhanced. The glass is very transparent, permanently fixed and meets local and international codes.
The entry doors are custom by www.dynamicwindows.com
Thank you.
Having another dining area with four chairs right next to the real dining table is silly. The two chairs on the kitchen side of the island are just in the way of using this for counter prep space.
Apparently privacy and security are not a concern for these homeowners? You can see into the library from the street, and just walk up the stairs to the deck and look into everything. Too many entry points to really secure.
The owners are minimalistic and this is their second residence. If you look closely you will note some personal items. We of course move some items to improve the pictures; no one wants to see a tooth brush on a vanity in this caliber of image/home.
Privacy and security are always an important consideration for our residences. All the doors are tempered, security glass with multi point locks (12 locking points on each door jamb/frame). Also there is no public access to that part of the beach. Many of the units, like the bathroom windows, have a one way tint for added privacy.
We never force our ideas on our clients and being very personal, custom designs, our clients at times do some items or details that we don't necessarily agree with. Ultimately it is their home and money and as long as it suites their wishes and needs we are pleased!
thanks.
To view the plans please visit http://www.streamlinedesign.ca/plans/timber-frame-plans/davis-bay.html
thank you.
yes there is a sealed, sloped deck under the Cedar.
We then add sleepers to provide an airspace and eliminate the slope of the finished deck.
Any quality contractor in Nanaimo should be able to do this for you.
please email us for further assistance.
www.streamlinedesign.ca
Linda Sabiston - www.lindasabiston.com