Words Janice Henshaw
Photos Sarah Hartley Photography
As I drive down the narrow lane towards the sea in North Saanich, the house colour catches my eye: not white-on-white minimalism, but the warm taupe siding and brick-red trim that is carefully matched to the arbutus trees that thrive on the waterfront lot. Homeowner Cheryl explains that her sister, Kathy, and Kathy’s husband, Phil, treasured these nature-inspired colours during their 30 years in the house. “Our family spent many wonderful summers with them, enjoying the beach.” Over time, the three-storey, 4,500-square-foot home became too much for them to maintain, prompting Cheryl and her husband, Martin, who were then living in Vancouver, to buy the property and adapt it to their needs. While the distinctive exterior cladding remains, inside, almost everything has changed. “The bones of the house are fantastic because Phil had such an eye for woodwork,” Cheryl said.
The kitchen is where old design gave way to new. Wanting a timeless, inviting seaside home, Cheryl and Martin enlisted Vancouver designer Jennifer Heffel of HB Design. “I’d worked with them before and understood their style, so I created a visual concept to show the home’s potential,” Jennifer said. “A key move was opening the kitchen to the living room for better flow. We developed a cohesive palette for finishes and guided millwork and details.”
Designer Carrie Mills from Seaside Cabinetry & Design managed all the millwork. In the kitchen, the cabinets have a clean, modern Shaker profile and are painted in a soft blue grey. When deciding on the colour, Carrie held up a paint chip to the ocean view window and said, “This one is actually what it looks like out there six or seven months of the year.” On wet days, the cabinets echo the water and sky; in sunlight, they soften. Carrie suggested the brushed-gold hardware, and it looks lovely; it warms everything up. “Martin and Cheryl were easy to work with and have impeccable taste,” said Carrie. “In the end, and with the help and coordination of their contractor, Eric Kaercher (Kaercher Projects & Construction Ltd.), everything came together beautifully.”
The 14-foot quartz-topped kitchen island features softened angles that make it easy to move around. As there is no natural gas service in this area, Cheryl and Martin purchased a workhorse of a stove – an Italian-made Fulgor Milano induction range. The glazed brick format tiles (Brick Saffi) climb the wall behind it in neat columns. A pot filler (water tap) arcs from the wall above the cooktop. Other appliances include two Wolf ovens and a panelled Sub-Zero fridge. There was not enough space for a pantry, so Seaside Cabinetry added a tall, deep cabinet and tucked extra cabinets into a new half-wall that opens to the next room.
The thoughtful renovation wasn’t limited to the kitchen. The lower level, once dominated by a full theatre room, is now two rooms – a bar and lounge, and, through French doors, Martin’s office. North Saanich craftsman Sean Duff built a large western maple desk for Martin. “Sean is such a wonderful artisan,” said Cheryl. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and shelving in Martin’s office/snug were designed by Carrie. A stunning ceramic fish is mounted in the centre, with shelves full of books surrounding it. There is even a rolling ladder to make full use of the upper shelves.
Continuing the custom feel, white oak plank flooring throughout most of the house features in-floor heating. In the stepped-down entertainment area, the same wood transitions into an intricate chevron pattern (a V-shaped, repeating zig-zag design). For floor installer, Brad Ozard, it involved several days of intense work, cutting and fitting each piece. The entertainment space has a quartz-topped built-in bar by Seaside Cabinetry, with a dishwasher, fridge, freezer drawers, and glass-fronted storage. “It helps you move the party out of the kitchen,” Martin said. “People can sit at the bar, lean on the rail, and have drinks passed up to the level above.”
Attention to artistry is evident throughout. Of special note are the home’s many fine original paintings and a few prints, most of which they have acquired over the past 25 years through Heffel Fine Art Auction House. Martin said that Heffel is a great source for original artworks. On the main floor, the library, originally constructed with fine wood from floor to ceiling, was transformed into a library/bedroom rather than updated to a different look. “Phil did such a beautiful job,” Cheryl said quietly. A full bathroom is just down the hall. In total, there are four bathrooms in the home, each beautifully finished.
Upstairs, three more bedrooms join the primary suite; two of them feature French doors opening to the glass-railed ocean view deck. In the main bedroom, Sean built a burled maple bed and headboard with drawers, added gold hardware and tucked wireless charging pads beneath the surface. There are integrated reading lights that fold from the headboard.
Luxurious linens and decorative pillows suggested by Muffet Billyard-Leake of muffet & louisa in Sidney add a dramatic touch. The amazing ensuite continues the artistry and attention to detail. Marble herringbone tile covers the floor and walls, topped with trim, while larger tiles extend to the ceiling. A tiled walk-in shower, white stand-alone tub, French doors to the deck, sitting area, cabinetry, and the view – words cannot capture the beauty of this space.
In one bedroom, the wood-lined ceiling has been painted white and has recessed lighting. A second bedroom pairs with a hall bathroom where the wall tile rises in a “picket fence” layout, another of Jennifer’s ideas. A Herman Miller saucer light hangs from the ceiling. All closets have been reworked with shelves and better hanging systems. Carey Salvador, former owner of Pigeonhole Home Store and Audra Harris, owner of Ines Simone, were invited to help style the house and assist in choosing the furnishings.
The upper-level laundry has a ventless European washer and condenser dryer on a raised platform. All windows are high-quality tilt-and-turn, well-suited to the coastal climate. A Life Breath air system is hidden behind a cabinet. Solar panels on the roof generate power for the house.
Outside, the once-bare concrete pad now has wood decking, with nearby garden beds and a handy outdoor shower. Steps lead down to the lovely beach, where friends swim and enjoy “gin and tubing” (cocktails while floating on a tube). Martin said he finds it a real pleasure to go prawn fishing in the Saanich Inlet within sight of their home. Cheryl summed it up: “The most important thing was keeping this beautiful property in our family.”
What a spectacular home! What a gorgeous property! Yes, I am a wee bit jealous!
