apr/may 2014 VA N CO U V E R I S L A N D Inside H&L S FEATURE HOME WEST COAST MODERN MILL BAY, BC $6.95 CAN DISPLAY UNTIL MAY 31ST, 2014 HLMAGAZINE.COM KITCHEN & BATH ISSUE FENNEL FLOATING RESIDENCE MAKING WAVES MARTHA VARCOE STURDY FULL CIRCLE MIES VAN DER ROHE LESS IS MORE
CONTENTS HOMES H&L VANCOUVER ISLAND H&L S KITCHEN & BATH ISSUE 38 FEATURE HOME 18 28 38 50 62 66 HOMES DESIGNER PROFILE: KYLA BIDGOOD The Human Aspect By Robin Schoffrel FAR OUT HOMES: FENNELL FLOATING RESIDENCE Fitting the Rhythm of the River By Goody Niosi FEATURE HOME: WEST COAST MODERN Rustic Urbana By Jessica Krippendorf HOT KITCHENS Realizing our Dream Spaces By Ben Vorst SMART KITCHENS Modern Solutions for Cutting-Edge Cooking By Ben Vorst STYLISH SANCTUARIES Creating the Perfect Bathroom By Ben Vorst 50 66 80 ICONIC ARCHITECTURE: MIES VAN DER ROHE Less is More By Claudia Kwan INTERIORS 8 9
FEATURE HOME WORDS BY JESSICA KRIPPENDORF PHOTOGRAPHS BY JASON VAN DER VALK WEST COAST MODERN S SIGNATURE AESTHETIC MIRRORS VANCOUVER ISLAND S NATURAL BEAUTY. WEST COAST MODERN RUSTIC URBANA The 3,200-square-foot home in Mill Bay was designed and built by homeowners Steve Smith and Lindsay McKenzie on a stunning half-acre lot that overlooks the ocean and boasts walking distance to the beach. Smith owns SC Smith Building Company, a Victoria-based custom home contracting company with a passion for challenges and an eye on the unusual. I love to build things, says Smith. By building, designing and creating, I feel I am constantly learning and improving my craft. The benefit to building my own homes is the blank canvas they allow for me to create truly unique visions. He says that the actual design of the home was largely done on the fly, with key features and finishing decisions often made after just sitting in the space awaiting inspiration. We let the architectural features flow as we went, he says. With each modern element we selected we tried to balance an adjoining feature with something warmer, to keep the space bright and airy but also creating a warm cozy feeling. This balanced creative process led Smith to coin the term rustic urbana to describe the overall aesthetic, which effectively makes bold colour and clean lines at home with exposed timber framing and stone finishes. 38 39
Above. Throughout the home, modern elements are balanced with warmer features to create a feeling of comfort. GENEROUS GLAZING FLOODS THE SPACE WITH NATURAL LIGHT. In the great room, fir beams installed at the top of 26-foot ceilings give the effect of a hybrid timber frame structure, while in the main entry rough-sawn fir plank cladding keeps it feeling welcome. A large round rustic chandelier is visible from the street through the upper windows, creating an inviting glow. The great room is an oasis of deep wood and refreshing blue hues centred on an inviting space to curl up and enjoy the view. Stone work on the fireplace connects with the exterior and a series of timber recesses along the back wall feature the homeowner s treasures, softening the room s modern lines. Large rectangular windows built into the peaked wall created by the high ceiling are staggered to follow the roofline. They capture stunning mountain views and serendipitously create perfect picture frames for amazing moon views over the ocean. Bringing fine art craftsmanship to architectural photography. 1.250.729.8041 brightideaphotography.com H&L Aug/Sep 2012 Victoria Feature Home H&L Feb/Mar 2013 Vancouver Island Feature Home H&L Spring 2011 Central Vancouver Island Feature Home 40 41
Above. Timber recesses above the fireplace provide the perfect space to feature the homeowner s treasures; they can be seen from below and from the bridge on the upper floor. The high ceilings and unobstructed visual path were carefully planned with second-floor functionality in mind. The upper floor features two bedrooms, the main bath and a second bath. A large bonus space over the garage became an art studio. I wanted to utilize the upper floor area on each side of the house without closing in the open feel from front to back, says Smith. It was decided early in the design to incorporate an open walkway space to divide the great room. The upper floor was built in two halves, with the open entry separating the spaces. A bridge constructed of 12 x 18 fir beams features rough-sawn fir cladding on the underside connecting to the main floor. Fir timber stairs with open risers maintain open site lines. The bridge and stair railings were created onsite as rough steel posts cleaned using a grinder, with the welds left exposed and installed using industrial hardware. Thick clear glass panels facilitate flow and a feeling of open movement. Wood beams and tones from the stone fireplace and red exterior panels carry through to the kitchen with a flawless blend of sleek lines and warm finishes. Timber light fixtures hang over the island and eating bar, using low-voltage mini spotlights and supported by industrial-styled pipe and flanges. Solid hardwood flooring and concrete counters are a natural backdrop for flat panel-style cabinets sprayed in a dark asphalt colour with long, modern stainless hardware. The island cabinets feature a satin black top coat finish, with distressed sections that reveal the asphalt colour below. It was my take on a modern cabinet of today and how it might look in 30 years, said Smith. A stainless steel island countertop brightens the black cabinets and the perimeter counters are concrete poured onsite using a black colouration and left with minimal polishing. In the rest of the home, a modern stained-glass effect is created with opaque glass doors throughout telegraphing the bold colours used in many of the rooms and creating constantly changing visual art that depends on the amount of natural light falling on them. FIND EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE. THE GROVE SOLUR H&L FEATURE HOME SLIDESHOWS THESE EXTRAS AND SO MUCH MORE. 24 HOURS A DAY. VISIT US ONLINE NOW AT HLMAGAZINE.COM CAUTION! GREAT IDEAS THAT HELP YOU SPEND WEST COAST MODERN 42 43
I LOVE TO BUILD THINGS. Steve Smith No Compromises. Above. The inspiration for many key features and finishes came from simply sitting in the space. A bold wasabi green colour envelopes the master bathroom, with a slight Asian influence accentuated by bamboo cabinetry and a faint bamboo pattern in the floor tiles. The main floor powder room also acts as a bathroom for the adjoining guest room. It features a bold, spiced yam colour on the walls and crown moulding to highlight the nine-foot ceilings. In fact, each room s unique, inspiring character allows it to stand alone while connecting with subtle nuances. I am constantly surrounding myself with trades, suppliers and employees that are willing to try new things and who have a common sense of adventure in building, says Smith. Rarely will I not accept a challenge to push my limits. There is no such thing as a compromise, especially when it comes to your appliances. Euro-Line Appliances West offers a wide range of premium European cooking, dishwashing, ventilation, and refrigeration that integrate seamlessly into any kitchen environment, regardless of size or configuration. With all of our products come quality, environmentally conscious design and energy efficient operation. Visit our new Vancouver showroom at 2912 W. 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC 1 855 ELA WEST euro-line-appliances.com 44 45
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